Wesleyan University vs. RPI

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

 Wesleyan University RPI
Location Middletown, CT Troy, NY
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,271 7,024
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #30 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Wesleyan University RPI
Tuition (In State) $66,716 $60,360
Tuition (Out of State) $66,716 $60,360
Room & Board $19,034 $17,530
Avg Net Price $20,463 $35,940
Avg Grant Aid $64,709 $43,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 38% 96%

Admission

 Wesleyan University RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,500 16,283
Admitted 2,479 9,517
Acceptance Rate 17.1% 58.4%
Enrolled % 31.5% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.88
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 30/34
SAT Range 1450/1540 1330/1500
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 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Wesleyan University RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Wesleyan University RPI
Graduation Rate 92% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $180 $284

Diversity

 Wesleyan University RPI
% Men 2% 10%
% Women 4% 5%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 53% 59%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 Wesleyan University RPI
% In-State 10% 36%
% Out-of-State 75% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (7,024 students vs. 3,271 students)

Wesleyan University vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or RPI?

  • Wesleyan University is 10.5% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($66,716.00 vs. $60,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.5% higher at Wesleyan University than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($66,716.00 vs. $60,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than RPI ($20,463 vs. $35,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8.6% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($17,530 vs. $19,034)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Wesleyan University (96% vs. 38%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 47.1% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($64,709 vs. $43,994)

Wesleyan University vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (58.4%) than Wesleyan University (17.1%)

Wesleyan University vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (92% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $24,500 more per year than Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $58,000)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($17,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($180 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/