Wellesley vs. RPI

Deciding between Wellesley College 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.

Wellesley College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Wellesley vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than RPI ($22,174 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 13.8% lower than at Wellesley College ($18,120 vs. $21,024).
  • Wellesley College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $3,095 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Wellesley than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $3,095 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Wellesley College (95% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 47.3% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($64,116 vs. $43,517).

Wellesley vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 70 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Wellesley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Wellesley vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $18,600 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($8,900 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $192 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($92 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 86%)

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.