Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Boston college — US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
EXPERT TAKE
Boston college is the more selective of the two (16.4% vs 63.5% acceptance). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($102K vs $104K). Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 vs $70,702 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 Rensselaer polytechnic institute for: higher retention, lower tuition, a larger aid package.
Choose Boston college for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Boston college is more selective (16.4% vs 63.5% acceptance); Boston college has a higher median SAT (1507 vs 1456).
Boston college graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $102K); Boston college has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.8% vs 83.6%).
Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 vs $70,702); Rensselaer polytechnic institute offers a larger average aid package ($76,097 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rensselaer polytechnic institute | Boston college |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | — | — |
| Acceptance rate | 63.5% | 16.4% |
| Yield rate | 39.7% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1456 | 1507 |
| Avg. GPA | — | — |
| Number of applications | 15,819 | 34,779 |
| International students | 19% | 12% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $104K |
| Avg. earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $93K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $137K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 83.6% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 96% |
| Median debt | $23,750 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $64,081 | $70,702 |
| Avg. aid package | $76,097 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,149 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $75 | — |
| Enrollment | 6,761 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Boston college?
It's harder to get into Boston college. Rensselaer polytechnic institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Boston college accepts 16.4%.
Do Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Boston college graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal — 10 years after enrollment, the median is $102K at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $104K at Boston college.
How much is tuition at Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Boston college?
Sticker-price tuition is $64,081 per year at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $70,702 per year at Boston college.
What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Boston college?
The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and 1507 at Boston college; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Boston college?
The average aid package is $76,097 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $61,753 at Boston college.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts institute of technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns hopkins
Washington university
Northwestern