BOSTON, MA

AMHERST, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Northeastern vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

NORTHEASTERN

Boston, MA

World rank · ARWU#201-300

Acceptance5.2%

Median SAT1490

Graduation rate90.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$93K

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

Northeastern University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#201-300 World rank · ARWU #501-600

- Rank · THE -

5.2% Acceptance rate 63.5%

1490 Median SAT 1456

90.5% Graduation rate 83.6%

39,774 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.2% Acceptance rate 63.5%

53.8% Yield rate 14.4%

1490 Median SAT 1456

- Avg. GPA 3.93

98,425 Number of applications 14,356

13.1% Int'l students 2.2%

At a glance

Northeastern leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance5.2% vs 63.5%

Yield53.8% vs 14.4%

% of need86.7% vs 66.2%

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Northeastern admits 5.2% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.

The more international environment is at Northeastern (13.1% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Northeastern awards $24,539.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $93K.

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

Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 63.5% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $93K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $69,289 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 Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 63.5% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $93K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $69,289); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $46,555).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Northeastern	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU	#201-300	#501-600
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	5.2%	63.5%
Yield rate	53.8%	14.4%
Median SAT	1490	1456
Avg. GPA	-	3.93
Number of applications	98,425	14,356
International students	13.1%	2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$93K	$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$62K	$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$135K	$137K
Graduation rate	90.5%	83.6%
Retention rate	96.9%	91%
Median debt	$24,250	$23,750
Tuition · year	$69,289	$67,976
Avg. aid package	$46,555	$50,402
% of need met	86.7%	66.2%
Avg. graduate debt	$32,461	$39,539
Application fee	$75	$70
Enrollment	39,774	7,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Northeastern or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $93K.

How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Northeastern with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Washington University

Northwestern

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.