Yale vs. RPI

Should I go to Yale University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Yale 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Harvard RIT Princeton Columbia Stevens Stanford Duke Brown Cornell UChicago Dartmouth Binghamton University
Yale University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Yale University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Yale University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Yale RPI
Location New Haven, CT Troy, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 14,776 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #6 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website yale.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Yale RPI
Tuition (In State) $62,250 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $62,250 $58,600
Room & Board $18,450 $16,980
Avg Net Price $18,647 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $63,523 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 90%

Admission

 Yale RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 50,060 16,863
Admitted 2,289 10,878
Acceptance Rate 4.6% 64.5%
Enrolled % 67.9% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.95 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 30/34
SAT Range 1500/1580 1360/1520
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 2, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Yale RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • History (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

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

Students

 Yale RPI
% In-State 6% 36%
% Out-of-State 80% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Yale University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (14,776 students vs. 6,968 students)

Yale vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or RPI?

  • Yale University is 6.2% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($62,250.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.2% higher at Yale than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($62,250.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Yale University than RPI ($18,647 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8.7% lower than costs at Yale University ($16,980 vs. $18,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Yale University (90% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 64.4% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,523 vs. $38,636)

Yale vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Yale University (1498) is 130 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Yale students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RPI (30)
  • 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 (64.5%) than Yale (4.6%)

Yale vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The graduation rate at Yale is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (97% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Yale University earn on average $35,900 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($118,400 vs. $82,500)
  • Yale University students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($13,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Yale graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans 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/