UMass vs. RPI

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

UMass vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst than RPI ($22,948 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 7.8% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,710 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 260.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $46,309 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.4% higher at RPI than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $23,632 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (95% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 231.9% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($43,517 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 30 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than UMass (59.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 12.1% at RPI.

UMass vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $27,300 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($248 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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.