SCU vs. RPI

Should I go to Santa Clara University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SCU or RPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Santa Clara University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Santa Clara University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Santa Clara University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 SCU RPI
Location Santa Clara, CA Troy, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 9,340 7,024
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #124
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scu.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SCU RPI
Tuition (In State) $58,587 $60,360
Tuition (Out of State) $58,587 $60,360
Room & Board $18,984 $17,530
Avg Net Price $49,651 $35,940
Avg Grant Aid $28,375 $43,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 96%

Admission

 SCU RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,843 16,283
Admitted 8,261 9,517
Acceptance Rate 43.8% 58.4%
Enrolled % 18.8% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.88
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/33 30/34
SAT Range 1340/1500 1330/1500
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 7, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 SCU RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 SCU RPI
% Men 15% 10%
% Women 18% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 59%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 3% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 SCU RPI
% In-State 50% 36%
% Out-of-State 40% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Santa Clara University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (9,340 students vs. 7,024 students)

SCU vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 3% more expensive to attend than SCU for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $58,587.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3% higher at RPI than Santa Clara University ($60,360.00 vs. $58,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than SCU ($35,940 vs. $49,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8.3% lower than costs at Santa Clara University ($17,530 vs. $18,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Santa Clara University (96% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 55% larger than aid received Santa Clara University ($43,994 vs. $28,375)

SCU vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or SCU .

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 55 points higher than at SCU (1313)
  • Incoming SCU students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at RPI (30)
  • 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 (58.4%) than SCU (43.8%)

SCU vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SCU or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and SCU.

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (85% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $600 more per year than SCU graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $81,900)
  • Santa Clara University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
  • SCU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans 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/