Old Dominion vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Old Dominion awards $16,000.
On paper the cheaper option is Old Dominion: $33,885 against $67,976, which is $34,091 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $55K.
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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the more selective of the two (63.5% vs 90.4% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 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 Old Dominion for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is more selective (63.5% vs 90.4% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1197).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $55K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Old Dominion | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 90.4% | 63.5% |
| Yield rate | 19.9% | 14.4% |
| Median SAT | 1197 | 1456 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 15,100 | 14,356 |
| International students | 1.3% | 2.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $37K | $71K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 46.3% | 83.6% |
| Retention rate | 77% | 91% |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $23,750 |
| Tuition · year | $33,885 | $67,976 |
| Avg. aid package | $30,437 | $50,402 |
| % of need met | 53% | 66.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,043 | $39,539 |
| Application fee | $50 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 23,743 | 7,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Old Dominion accepts 90.4% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.
Do Old Dominion or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Sticker-price tuition is $33,885 per year at Old Dominion and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
What SAT score do you need for Old Dominion or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The median admitted SAT score is 1197 at Old Dominion and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Old Dominion vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Which university offers more financial aid - Old Dominion or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The average aid package is $30,437 at Old Dominion and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern