Harvard University
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Harvard vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

Harvard University
HARVARD
Cambridge, MA
World rank · ARWU#1
Acceptance3.65%
Median SAT1553
Graduation rate97.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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

Harvard University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
#1 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#3 Rank · THE -
3.65% Acceptance rate 63.5%
1553 Median SAT 1456
97.6% Graduation rate 83.6%
21,189 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

3.65% Acceptance rate 63.5%
83.6% Yield rate 14.4%
1553 Median SAT 1456
4.21 Avg. GPA 3.93
54,008 Number of applications 14,356
15.7% Int'l students 2.2%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $102K
$65K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $71K
$200K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $137K
97.6% Graduation rate 83.6%
98% Retention rate 91%
$14,000 Median debt $23,750
$64,796 Tuition · year $67,976
$74,387 Avg. aid package $50,402
100% % of need met 66.2%
$22,262 Avg. graduate debt $39,539
$85 Application fee $70
$81,046 Avg. int'l aid $48,307
At a glance
Harvard leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance3.65% vs 63.5%
Yield83.6% vs 14.4%
Grad. debt$22,262 vs $39,539

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Harvard turns away the overwhelming majority (3.6%).

The share of international students differs sharply: 15.7% (Harvard) against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Real money goes to international students at Harvard ($81,046 on average), while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute stops at $48,307.

97 points separate the SAT profiles: 1553 (Harvard) against 1456.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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

Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 63.5% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#1 vs #501-600). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($102K vs $102K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 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 Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 63.5% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $102K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $67,976); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kHarvardRensselaer Polytechnic Institute TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Harvard and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Harvard Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU#1#501-600
Rank · THE#3-
Acceptance rate3.65%63.5%
Yield rate83.6%14.4%
Median SAT15531456
Avg. GPA4.213.93
Number of applications54,00814,356
International students15.7%2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$65K$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$200K$137K
Graduation rate97.6%83.6%
Retention rate98%91%
Median debt$14,000$23,750
Tuition · year$64,796$67,976
Avg. aid package$74,387$50,402
% of need met100%66.2%
Avg. graduate debt$22,262$39,539
Application fee$85$70
Enrollment21,1897,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Harvard or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Harvard. Harvard accepts 3.65% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Harvard or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $102K at Harvard and $102K at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

How much is tuition at Harvard vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,796 per year at Harvard and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Harvard and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Harvard or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #1 for Harvard vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The average aid package is $74,387 at Harvard and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Harvard with
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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.