UMass vs. RPI

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

 UMass RPI
Location Amherst, MA Troy, NY
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 32,229 6,968
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #176 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umass.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMass RPI
Tuition (In State) $16,186 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $37,405 $58,600
Room & Board $14,123 $16,980
Avg Net Price $22,291 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $12,350 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 90%

Admission

 UMass RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 45,451 16,863
Admitted 28,871 10,878
Acceptance Rate 63.5% 64.5%
Enrolled % 19.4% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.99 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 30/34
SAT Range 1260/1480 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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 UMass RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UMass RPI
% Men 49% 69%
% Women 51% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 59%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 4% 11%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

 UMass RPI
% In-State 65% 36%
% Out-of-State 24% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (32,229 students vs. 6,968 students)

UMass vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 262% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $16,186.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.7% higher at RPI than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($58,600.00 vs. $37,405.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than RPI ($22,291 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 20.2% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($14,123 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than University of Massachusetts Amherst (90% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 212.8% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($38,636 vs. $12,350)

UMass vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 142 points higher than at UMass (1226)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at UMass (28)
  • 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 (64.5%) than UMass (63.5%)

UMass vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (84% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $27,300 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $55,200)
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,500)
  • UMass graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans 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/