Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Rochester — 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 Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1488
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Rochester
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #151-200
— Rank · THE #127
63.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1456 Median SAT 1488
83.6% Graduation rate 85.4%
6,761 Enrollment 11,946

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%
39.7% Yield rate 15.4%
1456 Median SAT 1488
— Avg. GPA 3.70
15,819 Number of applications 21,384
19% Int'l students 37%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $79K
$86K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $74K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
83.6% Graduation rate 85.4%
98% Retention rate 90.7%
$23,750 Median debt $21,000
$64,081 Tuition · year $67,080
$76,097 Avg. aid package $60,879
100% % of need met 96.1%
$29,149 Avg. graduate debt $32,304
$75 Application fee $50
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Rensselaer polytechnic institute leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
Yield39.7% vs 15.4%
Acceptance63.5% vs 40.1%
Earnings$102K vs $79K

EXPERT TAKE

Rochester is the more selective of the two (40.1% vs 63.5% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #151-200). Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $79K). Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 vs $67,080 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, higher retention, lower tuition.

Choose Rochester 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

Rochester is more selective (40.1% vs 63.5% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $79K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer polytechnic institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,081 vs $67,080); Rensselaer polytechnic institute offers a larger average aid package ($76,097 vs $60,879).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kRensselaer polytechnic instituteRochester TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rensselaer polytechnic institute and Rochester highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer polytechnic institute Rochester
World rank · ARWU#501-600#151-200
Rank · THE—#127
Acceptance rate63.5%40.1%
Yield rate39.7%15.4%
Median SAT14561488
Avg. GPA—3.70
Number of applications15,81921,384
International students19%37%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$79K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$86K$74K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$117K
Graduation rate83.6%85.4%
Retention rate98%90.7%
Median debt$23,750$21,000
Tuition · year$64,081$67,080
Avg. aid package$76,097$60,879
% of need met100%96.1%
Avg. graduate debt$29,149$32,304
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment6,76111,946

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Rochester?

It's harder to get into Rochester. Rensselaer polytechnic institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.1%.

Do Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Rochester graduates earn more?

Rensselaer polytechnic institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs Rochester?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,081 per year at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $67,080 per year at Rochester.

What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Rochester?

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and 1488 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Rochester?

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Rensselaer polytechnic institute vs #151-200 for Rochester.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rensselaer polytechnic institute or Rochester?

The average aid package is $76,097 at Rensselaer polytechnic institute and $60,879 at Rochester.

Compare Rensselaer polytechnic institute with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins 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.