EVANSTON, IL

AMHERST, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Northwestern vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

NORTHWESTERN

Evanston, IL

World rank · ARWU#33

Acceptance7.69%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate95.1%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$89K

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

Northwestern University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#33 World rank · ARWU #501-600

#31 Rank · THE -

7.69% Acceptance rate 63.5%

1540 Median SAT 1456

95.1% Graduation rate 83.6%

23,431 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

7.69% Acceptance rate 63.5%

55.3% Yield rate 14.4%

1540 Median SAT 1456

- Avg. GPA 3.93

49,474 Number of applications 14,356

11.8% Int'l students 2.2%

At a glance

Northwestern leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance7.69% vs 63.5%

Yield55.3% vs 14.4%

Debt$15,000 vs $23,750

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Northwestern admits 7.7% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.

The larger international cohort belongs to Northwestern: 11.8% of students against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Average aid for an international student is $74,103 (Northwestern) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $89K.

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

Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 63.5% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#33 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $89K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $70,589 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 Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 63.5% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Northwestern	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU	#33	#501-600
Rank · THE	#31	-
Acceptance rate	7.69%	63.5%
Yield rate	55.3%	14.4%
Median SAT	1540	1456
Avg. GPA	-	3.93
Number of applications	49,474	14,356
International students	11.8%	2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$89K	$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$61K	$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$139K	$137K
Graduation rate	95.1%	83.6%
Retention rate	98%	91%
Median debt	$15,000	$23,750
Tuition · year	$70,589	$67,976
Avg. aid package	$68,110	$50,402
% of need met	100%	66.2%
Avg. graduate debt	$32,540	$39,539
Application fee	$75	$70
Enrollment	23,431	7,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Northwestern. Northwestern accepts 7.69% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Northwestern or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $89K.

How much is tuition at Northwestern vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,589 per year at Northwestern and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Northwestern and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Northwestern or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #33 for Northwestern vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The average aid package is $68,110 at Northwestern and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Northwestern with

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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.