AMHERST, MA

ORLANDO, FL

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Central Florida - 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

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Orlando, FL

World rank · ARWU#401-500

Acceptance44.71%

Median SAT1260

Graduation rate78%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Central Florida

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #401-500

- Rank · THE -

63.5% Acceptance rate 44.71%

1456 Median SAT 1260

83.6% Graduation rate 78%

7,042 Enrollment 69,338

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 44.71%

14.4% Yield rate 33.5%

1456 Median SAT 1260

3.93 Avg. GPA 4.16

14,356 Number of applications 55,135

2.2% Int'l students 3.3%

At a glance

Central Florida leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$50,402 vs $11,814

Tuition$67,976 vs $24,076

Yield14.4% vs 33.5%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Central Florida: 44.7% against 63.5% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Central Florida awards $928.

The tuition gap is $43,900 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $67,976.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $58K.

None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.

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

Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 63.5% acceptance). Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #401-500). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.

Choose Central Florida for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher retention.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 63.5% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1260).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $58K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 78%).

Cost and aid

Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Central Florida
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#401-500
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	63.5%	44.71%
Yield rate	14.4%	33.5%
Median SAT	1456	1260
Avg. GPA	3.93	4.16
Number of applications	14,356	55,135
International students	2.2%	3.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$58K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$39K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$86K
Graduation rate	83.6%	78%
Retention rate	91%	92.3%
Median debt	$23,750	$18,190
Tuition · year	$67,976	$24,076
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$11,814
% of need met	66.2%	65%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$20,529
Application fee	$70	$30
Enrollment	7,042	69,338

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Central Florida?

It's harder to get into Central Florida. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Central Florida accepts 44.71%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Central Florida graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Central Florida?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $24,076 per year at Central Florida.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1260 at Central Florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Central Florida?

Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #401-500 for Central Florida.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $11,814 at Central Florida.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.