UConn vs. RPI

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

UConn vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 University of Connecticut than RPI ($25,310 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 20.6% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($14,380 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 204.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $43,037 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.6% higher at RPI than at University of Connecticut (about $20,369 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Connecticut (95% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 163.7% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($43,517 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 110 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than UConn (52.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 12.1% at RPI.

UConn vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UConn 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 UConn students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 78%)

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.