Maryland vs. RPI

Should I go to University of Maryland College Park or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Maryland 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

RIT UMBC Stevens TU Binghamton University Wisconsin Virginia Tech Penn State Ohio State Northeastern Florida Pitt
University of Maryland College Park vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
University of Maryland College Park Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
University of Maryland College Park Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Maryland RPI
Location College Park, MD Troy, NY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 40,792 6,968
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #95 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umd.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Maryland RPI
Tuition (In State) $9,695 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $37,931 $58,600
Room & Board $14,576 $16,980
Avg Net Price $16,210 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $11,232 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 90%

Admission

 Maryland RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 56,761 16,863
Admitted 25,320 10,878
Acceptance Rate 44.6% 64.5%
Enrolled % 23.1% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34 30/34
SAT Range 1360/1520 1360/1520
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 15, 2025

Academics

 Maryland RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Maryland RPI
Graduation Rate 82% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,300 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $284

Diversity

 Maryland RPI
% Men 51% 69%
% Women 49% 31%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 52% 59%
% Black 13% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 4% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Maryland RPI
% In-State 72% 36%
% Out-of-State 26% 58%

Campus

 Maryland 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 Maryland College Park is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (40,792 students vs. 6,968 students)

Maryland vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 504.4% more expensive to attend than Maryland for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $9,695.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.5% higher at RPI than University of Maryland College Park ($58,600.00 vs. $37,931.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than RPI ($16,210 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 16.5% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($14,576 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than University of Maryland College Park (90% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 244% larger than aid received University of Maryland College Park ($38,636 vs. $11,232)

Maryland vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 53 points higher than at Maryland (1315)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Maryland (3.84)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Maryland (44.6%)

Maryland vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than University of Maryland College Park (84% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $14,200 more per year than Maryland graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $68,300)
  • University of Maryland College Park students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Maryland graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($201 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland 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/