AMHERST, MA

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Maryland (UMBC) - 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

MARYLAND (UMBC)

Baltimore, Maryland

World rank · ARWU#601-700

Acceptance72.43%

Median SAT1323

Graduation rate70%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Maryland, Baltimore County

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #601-700

- Rank · THE -

63.5% Acceptance rate 72.43%

1456 Median SAT 1323

83.6% Graduation rate 70%

7,042 Enrollment 13,906

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 72.43%

14.4% Yield rate 21.6%

1456 Median SAT 1323

3.93 Avg. GPA 4.13

14,356 Number of applications 14,325

2.2% Int'l students 4.8%

At a glance

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$50,402 vs $14,712

Tuition$67,976 vs $32,735

Grad. debt$39,539 vs $22,450

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, Maryland (UMBC) awards $13,080.

The tuition gap is $35,241 a year: $32,735 (Maryland (UMBC)) against $67,976.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $70K.

133 points separate the SAT profiles: 1456 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) against 1323.

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the more selective of the two (63.5% vs 72.43% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #601-700). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Maryland (UMBC) 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 72.43% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1323).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Maryland (UMBC)
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#601-700
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	63.5%	72.43%
Yield rate	14.4%	21.6%
Median SAT	1456	1323
Avg. GPA	3.93	4.13
Number of applications	14,356	14,325
International students	2.2%	4.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$45K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$101K
Graduation rate	83.6%	70%
Retention rate	91%	85%
Median debt	$23,750	$19,500
Tuition · year	$67,976	$32,735
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$14,712
% of need met	66.2%	47%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$22,450
Application fee	$70	$75
Enrollment	7,042	13,906

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Maryland (UMBC)?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Maryland (UMBC)?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC).

What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Maryland (UMBC)?

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1323 at Maryland (UMBC); aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Maryland (UMBC)?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC).

Which university offers more financial aid - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Maryland (UMBC)?

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC).

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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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.