Yale vs. RPI

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Yale vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than RPI ($22,408 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8.9% lower than at Yale University ($18,120 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $3,169 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Yale than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $3,169 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Yale University (95% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 51.4% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($65,892 vs. $43,517).

Yale vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 80 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Yale vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $35,900 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($13,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($139 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

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.