AMHERST, MA

BOSTON, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Northeastern - 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

NORTHEASTERN

Boston, MA

World rank · ARWU#201-300

Acceptance5.2%

Median SAT1490

Graduation rate90.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$93K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Northeastern University

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #201-300

- Rank · THE -

63.5% Acceptance rate 5.2%

1456 Median SAT 1490

83.6% Graduation rate 90.5%

7,042 Enrollment 39,774

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 5.2%

14.4% Yield rate 53.8%

1456 Median SAT 1490

3.93 Avg. GPA -

14,356 Number of applications 98,425

2.2% Int'l students 13.1%

At a glance

Northeastern leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance63.5% vs 5.2%

Yield14.4% vs 53.8%

% of need66.2% vs 86.7%

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Northeastern admits 5.2% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.

The more international environment is at Northeastern (13.1% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Northeastern awards $24,539.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $93K.

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

Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 63.5% acceptance). Northeastern 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 $93K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $69,289 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 graduate earnings, lower tuition, a larger aid package.

Choose Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 63.5% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $93K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $69,289); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $46,555).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Northeastern
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#201-300
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	63.5%	5.2%
Yield rate	14.4%	53.8%
Median SAT	1456	1490
Avg. GPA	3.93	-
Number of applications	14,356	98,425
International students	2.2%	13.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$93K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$62K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$135K
Graduation rate	83.6%	90.5%
Retention rate	91%	96.9%
Median debt	$23,750	$24,250
Tuition · year	$67,976	$69,289
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$46,555
% of need met	66.2%	86.7%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$32,461
Application fee	$70	$75
Enrollment	7,042	39,774

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Northeastern. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Northeastern graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $93K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Northeastern?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Northeastern?

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

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $46,555 at Northeastern.

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.