Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Massachusetts institute of technology — 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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Cambridge, MA
World rank · ARWU#3
Acceptance4.5%
Median SAT1560
Graduation rate96.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$143K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #3
— Rank · THE #2
63.5% Acceptance rate 4.5%
1456 Median SAT 1560
83.6% Graduation rate 96.4%
6,761 Enrollment 11,886

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 4.5%
39.7% Yield rate 86.1%
1456 Median SAT 1560
— Avg. GPA —
15,819 Number of applications 28,232
19% Int'l students 33%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $143K
$86K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $154K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $243K
83.6% Graduation rate 96.4%
98% Retention rate 99%
$23,750 Median debt $14,768
$64,081 Tuition · year $62,396
$76,097 Avg. aid package $68,358
100% % of need met 100%
$29,149 Avg. graduate debt $29,488
$75 Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Massachusetts institute of technology leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance63.5% vs 4.5%
Yield39.7% vs 86.1%
Debt$23,750 vs $14,768

EXPERT TAKE

Massachusetts institute of technology is the more selective of the two (4.5% vs 63.5% acceptance). Massachusetts institute of technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #3). Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $102K). Massachusetts institute of technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,396 vs $64,081 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 larger aid package, lower graduate debt.

Choose Massachusetts institute of technology for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Massachusetts institute of technology is more selective (4.5% vs 63.5% acceptance); Massachusetts institute of technology has a higher median SAT (1560 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $102K); Massachusetts institute of technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Massachusetts institute of technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,396 vs $64,081); Rensselaer polytechnic institute offers a larger average aid package ($76,097 vs $68,358).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kRensselaer polytechnic instituteMassachusetts institute of technology TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rensselaer polytechnic institute and Massachusetts institute of technology highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer polytechnic institute Massachusetts institute of technology
World rank · ARWU#501-600#3
Rank · THE—#2
Acceptance rate63.5%4.5%
Yield rate39.7%86.1%
Median SAT14561560
Avg. GPA——
Number of applications15,81928,232
International students19%33%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$143K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$86K$154K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$243K
Graduation rate83.6%96.4%
Retention rate98%99%
Median debt$23,750$14,768
Tuition · year$64,081$62,396
Avg. aid package$76,097$68,358
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$29,149$29,488
Application fee$75$75
Enrollment6,76111,886

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Massachusetts institute of technology?

It's harder to get into Massachusetts institute of technology. Rensselaer polytechnic institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Massachusetts institute of technology accepts 4.5%.

Do Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn more?

Massachusetts institute of technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $102K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Massachusetts institute of technology?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,081 per year at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $62,396 per year at Massachusetts institute of technology.

What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Massachusetts institute of technology?

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and 1560 at Massachusetts institute of technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Massachusetts institute of technology?

Massachusetts institute of technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs #3 for Massachusetts institute of technology.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Massachusetts institute of technology?

The average aid package is $76,097 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $68,358 at Massachusetts institute of technology.

Compare Rensselaer polytechnic institute with
Harvard Stanford Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern North carolina
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.