WPI vs. RPI

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

 WPI RPI
Location Worcester, MA Troy, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,308 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpi.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WPI RPI
Tuition (In State) $56,000 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $56,000 $58,600
Room & Board $16,544 $16,980
Avg Net Price $46,876 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $27,059 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 90%

Admission

 WPI RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,599 16,863
Admitted 6,667 10,878
Acceptance Rate 57.5% 64.5%
Enrolled % 20.3% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34
SAT Range 1360/1520
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 WPI RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (61%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (5%)
  • Business (4%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 WPI RPI
Graduation Rate 76% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,700 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $284

Diversity

 WPI RPI
% Men 64% 69%
% Women 36% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 59%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 12% 11%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

 WPI RPI
% In-State 45% 36%
% Out-of-State 47% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (7,308 students vs. 6,968 students)

WPI vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 4.6% more expensive to attend than WPI for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $56,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at RPI than Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($58,600.00 vs. $56,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than WPI ($39,127 vs. $46,876)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 2.6% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,544 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (96% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 42.8% larger than aid received Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($38,636 vs. $27,059)

WPI vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than WPI (57.5%)

WPI vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WPI 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 WPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (84% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $200 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $82,500)
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • WPI graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RPI students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

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