Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Notre Dame - 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
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1510
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Notre Dame
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #301-400
- Rank · THE -
63.5% Acceptance rate 11.3%
1456 Median SAT 1510
83.6% Graduation rate 95%
7,042 Enrollment 13,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 11.3%
14.4% Yield rate 61.7%
1456 Median SAT 1510
3.93 Avg. GPA -
14,356 Number of applications 29,942
2.2% Int'l students 7.5%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $100K
$71K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $68K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $141K
83.6% Graduation rate 95%
91% Retention rate 99%
$23,750 Median debt $19,000
$67,976 Tuition · year $67,607
$50,402 Avg. aid package $67,855
66.2% % of need met 100%
$39,539 Avg. graduate debt $30,400
$70 Application fee $85
$48,307 Avg. int'l aid $62,803
At a glance
Notre Dame leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance63.5% vs 11.3%
Yield14.4% vs 61.7%
% of need66.2% vs 100%

The verdict, from the data

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts most of the applications it receives (63.5%), while Notre Dame turns away the overwhelming majority (11.3%).

The more international environment is at Notre Dame (7.5% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

Average aid for an international student is $62,803 (Notre Dame) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

54 points separate the SAT profiles: 1510 (Notre Dame) against 1456.

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

Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 63.5% acceptance). Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #301-400). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($102K vs $100K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 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: higher graduate earnings.

Choose Notre Dame 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

Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 63.5% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $100K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $67,976); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNotre Dame TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Notre Dame highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Notre Dame
World rank · ARWU#501-600#301-400
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate63.5%11.3%
Yield rate14.4%61.7%
Median SAT14561510
Avg. GPA3.93-
Number of applications14,35629,942
International students2.2%7.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$100K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$71K$68K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$141K
Graduation rate83.6%95%
Retention rate91%99%
Median debt$23,750$19,000
Tuition · year$67,976$67,607
Avg. aid package$50,402$67,855
% of need met66.2%100%
Avg. graduate debt$39,539$30,400
Application fee$70$85
Enrollment7,04213,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Notre Dame?

It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Notre Dame graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $102K at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $100K at Notre Dame.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Notre Dame?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Notre Dame?

Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $67,855 at Notre Dame.

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with
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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.