Wellesley vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Wellesley vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or RIT ? 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 RIT ($22,174 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 23.2% lower than at Wellesley College ($16,142 vs. $21,024).
• Wellesley College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $7,902 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at Wellesley than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $7,902 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Wellesley College (98% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 82.8% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($64,116 vs. $35,077).

Wellesley vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley or RIT ? 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 RIT and Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 130 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Wellesley vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $19,100 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($8,900 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $197 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($92 vs. $289).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 75%)

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.