AMHERST, MA

BOSTON, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Boston University - US university comparison

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Amherst, MA

World rank · ARWU#501-600

Acceptance63.5%

Median SAT1456

Graduation rate83.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Boston, MA

World rank · ARWU#101-150

Acceptance12.83%

Median SAT1470

Graduation rate88.7%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Boston University

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #101-150

- Rank · THE #75

63.5% Acceptance rate 12.83%

1456 Median SAT 1470

83.6% Graduation rate 88.7%

7,042 Enrollment 36,977

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 12.83%

14.4% Yield rate 35%

1456 Median SAT 1470

3.93 Avg. GPA 3.86

14,356 Number of applications 76,776

2.2% Int'l students 20.1%

At a glance

Boston University leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics

Acceptance63.5% vs 12.83%

Yield14.4% vs 35%

% of need66.2% vs 92%

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Boston University turns away the overwhelming majority (12.8%).

The more international environment is at Boston University (20.1% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Boston University awards international students $56,639 on average, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards $48,307.

Ten years on, graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn noticeably more: $102K against $83K.

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

Boston University is the more selective of the two (12.83% vs 63.5% acceptance). Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #101-150). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $71,372 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 graduate earnings, lower tuition.

Choose Boston University for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Boston University is more selective (12.83% vs 63.5% acceptance); Boston University has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $83K); Boston University has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.7% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $71,372); Boston University offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Boston University
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#101-150
Rank · THE	-	#75
Acceptance rate	63.5%	12.83%
Yield rate	14.4%	35%
Median SAT	1456	1470
Avg. GPA	3.93	3.86
Number of applications	14,356	76,776
International students	2.2%	20.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$83K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$57K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$122K
Graduation rate	83.6%	88.7%
Retention rate	91%	94.2%
Median debt	$23,750	$23,250
Tuition · year	$67,976	$71,372
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$69,396
% of need met	66.2%	92%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$36,774
Application fee	$70	$80
Enrollment	7,042	36,977

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Boston University?

It's harder to get into Boston University. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Boston University accepts 12.83%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Boston University graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Boston University?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $71,372 per year at Boston University.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1470 at Boston University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Boston University?

Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #101-150 for Boston University.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $69,396 at Boston University.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.