AMHERST, MA

KINGSTON, RI

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Rhode Island - 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

RHODE ISLAND

Kingston, RI

World rank · ARWU#801-900

Acceptance72.2%

Median SAT1160

Graduation rate73.3%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Rhode Island

#501-600 World rank · ARWU #801-900

- Rank · THE -

63.5% Acceptance rate 72.2%

1456 Median SAT 1160

83.6% Graduation rate 73.3%

7,042 Enrollment 14,466

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 72.2%

14.4% Yield rate 16.4%

1456 Median SAT 1160

3.93 Avg. GPA 3.65

14,356 Number of applications 28,021

2.2% Int'l students 1.2%

At a glance

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$50,402 vs $17,595

Tuition$67,976 vs $38,398

Earnings$102K vs $70K

The verdict, from the data

Average aid for an international student is $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and $26,565 (Rhode Island).

The tuition gap is $29,578 a year: $38,398 (Rhode Island) against $67,976.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $70K.

Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: a midpoint of 1456 against 1160, a difference of 296 points.

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the more selective of the two (63.5% vs 72.2% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #801-900). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K). Rhode Island has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,398 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Rhode Island for: lower tuition.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is more selective (63.5% vs 72.2% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1160).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 73.3%).

Cost and aid

Rhode Island has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,398 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $17,595).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Rhode Island
World rank · ARWU	#501-600	#801-900
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	63.5%	72.2%
Yield rate	14.4%	16.4%
Median SAT	1456	1160
Avg. GPA	3.93	3.65
Number of applications	14,356	28,021
International students	2.2%	1.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$102K	$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$71K	$44K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$137K	$102K
Graduation rate	83.6%	73.3%
Retention rate	91%	85%
Median debt	$23,750	$22,250
Tuition · year	$67,976	$38,398
Avg. aid package	$50,402	$17,595
% of need met	66.2%	57%
Avg. graduate debt	$39,539	$42,945
Application fee	$70	$65
Enrollment	7,042	14,466

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rhode Island?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Rhode Island accepts 72.2%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rhode Island graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Rhode Island?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $38,398 per year at Rhode Island.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1160 at Rhode Island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rhode Island?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs #801-900 for Rhode Island.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $17,595 at Rhode Island.

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.