UConn vs. RPI

Should I go to University of Connecticut or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UConn 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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University of Connecticut vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
University of Connecticut Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
University of Connecticut Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 UConn RPI
Location Storrs, CT Troy, NY
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 27,364 7,024
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #100 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uconn.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UConn RPI
Tuition (In State) $16,332 $60,360
Tuition (Out of State) $39,000 $60,360
Room & Board $13,996 $17,530
Avg Net Price $22,324 $35,940
Avg Grant Aid $16,989 $43,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 96%

Admission

 UConn RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 46,645 16,283
Admitted 25,164 9,517
Acceptance Rate 53.9% 58.4%
Enrolled % 16.6% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 30/34
SAT Range 1210/1420 1330/1500
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 UConn RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UConn RPI
% Men 13% 10%
% Women 16% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 61% 59%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 5% 11%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 UConn RPI
% In-State 58% 36%
% Out-of-State 35% 58%

Campus

 UConn 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

  • University of Connecticut is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (27,364 students vs. 7,024 students)

UConn vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 269.6% more expensive to attend than UConn for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $16,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.8% higher at RPI than University of Connecticut ($60,360.00 vs. $39,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Connecticut than RPI ($22,324 vs. $35,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 25.3% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($13,996 vs. $17,530)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than University of Connecticut (96% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 159% larger than aid received University of Connecticut ($43,994 vs. $16,989)

UConn vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 118 points higher than at UConn (1250)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at UConn (29)
  • 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 (58.4%) than UConn (53.9%)

UConn vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than University of Connecticut (84% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $20,500 more per year than UConn graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $62,000)
  • University of Connecticut students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
  • UConn 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 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/