AMHERST, MA

HOUSTON, TX

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Houston - 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

HOUSTON

Houston, TX

World rank · ARWU#201-300

Acceptance73.92%

Median SAT1240

Graduation rate64.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Houston

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #201-300

- Rank · THE -

63.5% Acceptance rate 73.92%

1456 Median SAT 1240

83.6% Graduation rate 64.6%

7,042 Enrollment 47,980

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 73.92%

14.4% Yield rate 26.5%

1456 Median SAT 1240

3.93 Avg. GPA 3.49

14,356 Number of applications 31,716

2.2% Int'l students 5.7%

At a glance

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 8 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$50,402 vs $16,450

Tuition$67,976 vs $27,926

Yield14.4% vs 26.5%

The verdict, from the data

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Houston awards $4,456.

On paper the cheaper option is Houston: $27,926 against $67,976, which is $40,050 less a year.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $62K.

216 points separate the SAT profiles: 1456 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) against 1240.

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 73.92% acceptance). Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #201-300). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Houston for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is more selective (63.5% vs 73.92% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1240).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $62K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 64.6%).

Cost and aid

Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $16,450).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Houston
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#201-300
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	63.5%	73.92%
Yield rate	14.4%	26.5%
Median SAT	1456	1240
Avg. GPA	3.93	3.49
Number of applications	14,356	31,716
International students	2.2%	5.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$62K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$39K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$93K
Graduation rate	83.6%	64.6%
Retention rate	91%	87%
Median debt	$23,750	$18,194
Tuition · year	$67,976	$27,926
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$16,450
% of need met	66.2%	55.1%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$21,819
Application fee	$70	$75
Enrollment	7,042	47,980

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Houston?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Houston accepts 73.92%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Houston graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $62K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Houston?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $27,926 per year at Houston.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1240 at Houston; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Houston?

Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #201-300 for Houston.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $16,450 at Houston.

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.