Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
Kansas State University
MANHATTAN, KS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Kansas State - US university comparison

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Amherst, MA
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance63.5%
Median SAT1456
Graduation rate83.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K
Kansas State University
KANSAS STATE
Manhattan, KS
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance82%
Median SAT1150
Graduation rate71.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$57K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Kansas State University
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #501-600
- Rank · THE -
63.5% Acceptance rate 82%
1456 Median SAT 1150
83.6% Graduation rate 71.1%
7,042 Enrollment 20,295

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 82%
14.4% Yield rate 27.5%
1456 Median SAT 1150
3.93 Avg. GPA 3.81
14,356 Number of applications 15,432
2.2% Int'l students 1.7%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $57K
$71K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $39K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $83K
83.6% Graduation rate 71.1%
91% Retention rate 85.6%
$23,750 Median debt $21,250
$67,976 Tuition · year $28,568
$50,402 Avg. aid package $15,968
66.2% % of need met 77%
$39,539 Avg. graduate debt $25,179
$70 Application fee $40
$48,307 Avg. int'l aid $5,729
At a glance
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$50,402 vs $15,968
Tuition$67,976 vs $28,568
Yield14.4% vs 27.5%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 63.5% against 82% (Kansas State).

Real money goes to international students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($48,307 on average), while Kansas State stops at $5,729.

The tuition gap is $39,408 a year: $28,568 (Kansas State) against $67,976.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $57K.

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 82% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $57K). Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 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 Kansas State for: 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 82% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1150).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $57K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 71.1%).

Cost and aid

Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $15,968).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteKansas State TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Kansas State highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Kansas State
World rank · ARWU#501-600#501-600
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate63.5%82%
Yield rate14.4%27.5%
Median SAT14561150
Avg. GPA3.933.81
Number of applications14,35615,432
International students2.2%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$57K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$71K$39K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$83K
Graduation rate83.6%71.1%
Retention rate91%85.6%
Median debt$23,750$21,250
Tuition · year$67,976$28,568
Avg. aid package$50,402$15,968
% of need met66.2%77%
Avg. graduate debt$39,539$25,179
Application fee$70$40
Enrollment7,04220,295

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Kansas State?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Kansas State accepts 82%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Kansas State graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $57K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Kansas State?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $28,568 per year at Kansas State.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1150 at Kansas State; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $15,968 at Kansas State.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with
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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.