ORLANDO, FL

AMHERST, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Central Florida vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Orlando, FL

World rank · ARWU#401-500

Acceptance44.71%

Median SAT1260

Graduation rate78%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Amherst, MA

World rank · ARWU#501-600

Acceptance63.5%

Median SAT1456

Graduation rate83.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Central Florida Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#401-500 World rank · ARWU #501-600

- Rank · THE -

44.71% Acceptance rate 63.5%

1260 Median SAT 1456

78% Graduation rate 83.6%

69,338 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

44.71% Acceptance rate 63.5%

33.5% Yield rate 14.4%

1260 Median SAT 1456

4.16 Avg. GPA 3.93

55,135 Number of applications 14,356

3.3% Int'l students 2.2%

At a glance

Central Florida leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$11,814 vs $50,402

Tuition$24,076 vs $67,976

Yield33.5% vs 14.4%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Central Florida: 44.7% against 63.5% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Central Florida awards $928.

The tuition gap is $43,900 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $67,976.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $58K.

None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.

Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.

EXPERT TAKE

Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 63.5% acceptance). Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $67,976 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Central Florida for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher retention.

Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 63.5% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1260).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $58K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 78%).

Cost and aid

Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Central Florida and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Central Florida	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU	#401-500	#501-600
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	44.71%	63.5%
Yield rate	33.5%	14.4%
Median SAT	1260	1456
Avg. GPA	4.16	3.93
Number of applications	55,135	14,356
International students	3.3%	2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$58K	$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$39K	$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$86K	$137K
Graduation rate	78%	83.6%
Retention rate	92.3%	91%
Median debt	$18,190	$23,750
Tuition · year	$24,076	$67,976
Avg. aid package	$11,814	$50,402
% of need met	65%	66.2%
Avg. graduate debt	$20,529	$39,539
Application fee	$30	$70
Enrollment	69,338	7,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Central Florida. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Central Florida or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Central Florida with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Washington University

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Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.