SCU vs. RPI

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • RPI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • RPI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • RPI No

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

SCU vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or RPI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than SCU ($38,887 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8.9% lower than at Santa Clara University ($18,120 vs. $19,893).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $2,788 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at RPI than at Santa Clara University (about $2,788 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Santa Clara University (95% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 53.4% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($43,517 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or RPI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RPI and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 20 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming SCU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at RPI (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 12.1% at RPI.

SCU vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and RPI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $600 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($222 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.