Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Penn admits 5.4% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.
The more international environment is at Penn (13.3% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).
Real money goes to international students at Penn ($75,356 on average), while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute stops at $48,307.
Ten years on, graduates of Penn earn noticeably more: $111K against $102K.
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
Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 63.5% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #14). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $102K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $71,236 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: lower tuition.
Choose Penn 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
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 63.5% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1456).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $102K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 83.6%).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $50,402).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 63.5% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 14.4% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1456 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.93 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 14,356 | 65,236 |
| International students | 2.2% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $71K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $137K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 83.6% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 91% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $23,750 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $67,976 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $50,402 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 66.2% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $39,539 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $70 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 7,042 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $102K.
How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Penn?
The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $70,971 at Penn.
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