North Carolina vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: North Carolina admits 15.3% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reports aid for international students ($48,307 on average), North Carolina does not.
On paper the cheaper option is North Carolina: $45,228 against $67,976, which is $22,748 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $72K.
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
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 63.5% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 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 North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 63.5% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1456).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $72K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 83.6%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | North Carolina | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 63.5% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 14.4% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1456 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 14,356 |
| International students | 6.4% | 2.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $71K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 83.6% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 91% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $23,750 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $67,976 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $50,402 |
| % of need met | 100% | 66.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $39,539 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 7,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.
Do North Carolina or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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