Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 4.5% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 11.7% (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
Real money goes to international students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($77,266 on average), while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute stops at $48,307.
Ten years on, graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn noticeably more: $143K against $102K.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the more selective of the two (4.55% 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 ($64,730 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 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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is more selective (4.55% vs 63.5% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1456).
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%).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $67,976); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $50,402).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #3 |
| Rank · THE | - | #2 |
| Acceptance rate | 63.5% | 4.55% |
| Yield rate | 14.4% | 86.1% |
| Median SAT | 1456 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.93 | - |
| Number of applications | 14,356 | 28,232 |
| International students | 2.2% | 11.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $143K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $71K | $88K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $137K | $243K |
| Graduation rate | 83.6% | 96.4% |
| Retention rate | 91% | 99% |
| Median debt | $23,750 | $14,768 |
| Tuition · year | $67,976 | $64,730 |
| Avg. aid package | $50,402 | $68,358 |
| % of need met | 66.2% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $39,539 | $29,488 |
| Application fee | $70 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 7,042 | 11,886 |
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 4.55%.
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 $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $64,730 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 1550 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 $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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