UD vs. RPI

Deciding between University of Delaware 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 Delaware
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Delaware is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Delaware 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 Delaware 16:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

UD vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 Delaware than RPI ($19,139 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 15.1% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,386 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 281.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $47,271 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.8% higher at RPI than at University of Delaware (about $22,681 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Delaware (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 227.1% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($43,517 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 160 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 12.1% at RPI.

UD vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $3,297 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($24,203 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UD graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($250 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

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.