University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Notre Dame vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1510
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
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

University of Notre Dame Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #501-600
- Rank · THE -
11.3% Acceptance rate 63.5%
1510 Median SAT 1456
95% Graduation rate 83.6%
13,042 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.3% Acceptance rate 63.5%
61.7% Yield rate 14.4%
1510 Median SAT 1456
- Avg. GPA 3.93
29,942 Number of applications 14,356
7.5% Int'l students 2.2%
$100K Median earnings · 10 yrs $102K
$68K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $71K
$141K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $137K
95% Graduation rate 83.6%
99% Retention rate 91%
$19,000 Median debt $23,750
$67,607 Tuition · year $67,976
$67,855 Avg. aid package $50,402
100% % of need met 66.2%
$30,400 Avg. graduate debt $39,539
$85 Application fee $70
$62,803 Avg. int'l aid $48,307
At a glance
Notre Dame leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance11.3% vs 63.5%
Yield61.7% vs 14.4%
% of need100% vs 66.2%

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Notre Dame turns away the overwhelming majority (11.3%).

The more international environment is at Notre Dame (7.5% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

Average aid for an international student is $62,803 (Notre Dame) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

54 points separate the SAT profiles: 1510 (Notre Dame) against 1456.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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

Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 63.5% acceptance). Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #501-600). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($100K vs $102K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 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 Notre Dame 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

Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 63.5% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $100K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $67,976); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Notre Dame Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU#301-400#501-600
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate11.3%63.5%
Yield rate61.7%14.4%
Median SAT15101456
Avg. GPA-3.93
Number of applications29,94214,356
International students7.5%2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$68K$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$141K$137K
Graduation rate95%83.6%
Retention rate99%91%
Median debt$19,000$23,750
Tuition · year$67,607$67,976
Avg. aid package$67,855$50,402
% of need met100%66.2%
Avg. graduate debt$30,400$39,539
Application fee$85$70
Enrollment13,0427,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Notre Dame or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $100K at Notre Dame and $102K at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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

The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Notre Dame with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins 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.