Tulane vs. RPI

Deciding between Tulane University of Louisiana 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.

Tulane University of Louisiana
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tulane New Orleans, LA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Tulane Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tulane 13,310
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Tulane Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tulane
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tulane -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Tulane Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tulane
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Tulane $18,868
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Tulane $47,427
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tulane $39,654
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tulane 60%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tulane 32,609
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Tulane 4,559
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tulane 14%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Tulane 40.3%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tulane 1460
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tulane 32
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tulane 3.64
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tulane A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tulane Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tulane Very High
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tulane 31/34
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Tulane 1400/1520
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tulane Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tulane Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tulane 7:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tulane
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tulane -
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tulane $74,200
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tulane 62%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tulane $27,529
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tulane $284
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tulane 38%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Tulane 62%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tulane Medium
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Tulane No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Tulane 70%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Tulane 3%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Tulane 9%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tulane 6%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Tulane 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tulane 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tulane 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Tulane 3%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tulane 5%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tulane 14%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tulane 80%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tulane University of Louisiana is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (13,310 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tulane University of Louisiana is located in New Orleans, LA (Large City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tulane University of Louisiana 7:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Tulane vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tulane 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 Tulane ($38,887 vs. $47,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 4% lower than at Tulane University of Louisiana ($18,120 vs. $18,868).
  • Tulane University of Louisiana is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $4,597 more per year; $68,678.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Tulane than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $4,597 more per year; $68,678.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Tulane University of Louisiana (95% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Tulane University of Louisiana students ($43,517 vs. $39,654).

Tulane vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tulane 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 Tulane.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tulane University of Louisiana (1460) is 20 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Tulane 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: Tulane University of Louisiana 1400/1520; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tulane University of Louisiana 31/34; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tulane - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tulane Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Tulane (3.64).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Tulane (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.3% at Tulane vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Tulane vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tulane 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).

  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Tulane graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $74,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $29 lower median loan debt than Tulane graduates ($27,500 vs. $27,529).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Tulane graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($284 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tulane students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 62%)

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.