AMHERST, MA

EVANSTON, IL

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Northwestern - 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

NORTHWESTERN

Evanston, IL

World rank · ARWU#33

Acceptance7.69%

Median SAT1540

Graduation rate95.1%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$89K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Northwestern University

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #33

- Rank · THE #31

63.5% Acceptance rate 7.69%

1456 Median SAT 1540

83.6% Graduation rate 95.1%

7,042 Enrollment 23,431

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 7.69%

14.4% Yield rate 55.3%

1456 Median SAT 1540

3.93 Avg. GPA -

14,356 Number of applications 49,474

2.2% Int'l students 11.8%

At a glance

Northwestern leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance63.5% vs 7.69%

Yield14.4% vs 55.3%

Debt$23,750 vs $15,000

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Northwestern admits 7.7% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.

The larger international cohort belongs to Northwestern: 11.8% of students against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Average aid for an international student is $74,103 (Northwestern) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $89K.

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

Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 63.5% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #33). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $89K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $70,589 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.

Choose Northwestern 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

Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 63.5% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Northwestern
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#33
Rank · THE	-	#31
Acceptance rate	63.5%	7.69%
Yield rate	14.4%	55.3%
Median SAT	1456	1540
Avg. GPA	3.93	-
Number of applications	14,356	49,474
International students	2.2%	11.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$89K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$61K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$139K
Graduation rate	83.6%	95.1%
Retention rate	91%	98%
Median debt	$23,750	$15,000
Tuition · year	$67,976	$70,589
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$68,110
% of need met	66.2%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$32,540
Application fee	$70	$75
Enrollment	7,042	23,431

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Northwestern. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Northwestern graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $89K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Northwestern?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Northwestern?

Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #33 for Northwestern.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $68,110 at Northwestern.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Washington University

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.