Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
West Virginia University
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs West Virginia - 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
West Virginia University
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown, West Virginia
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance89%
Median SAT1110
Graduation rate64.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$56K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute West Virginia University
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #501-600
- Rank · THE -
63.5% Acceptance rate 89%
1456 Median SAT 1110
83.6% Graduation rate 64.7%
7,042 Enrollment 23,643

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

63.5% Acceptance rate 89%
14.4% Yield rate 26.5%
1456 Median SAT 1110
3.93 Avg. GPA 3.70
14,356 Number of applications 20,150
2.2% Int'l students 1.7%
$102K Median earnings · 10 yrs $56K
$71K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $36K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $84K
83.6% Graduation rate 64.7%
91% Retention rate 83.4%
$23,750 Median debt $22,500
$67,976 Tuition · year $28,608
$50,402 Avg. aid package $16,730
66.2% % of need met 63%
$39,539 Avg. graduate debt $36,010
$70 Application fee $65
$48,307 Avg. int'l aid $21,636
At a glance
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 8 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$50,402 vs $16,730
Tuition$67,976 vs $28,608
Yield14.4% vs 26.5%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 63.5% against 89% (West Virginia).

Real money goes to international students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($48,307 on average), while West Virginia stops at $21,636.

The cheaper tuition belongs to West Virginia: $28,608 against $67,976, or $39,368 less a year.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $56K.

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the more selective of the two (63.5% vs 89% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

Choose West Virginia for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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 89% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1110).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $56K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 64.7%).

Cost and aid

West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $16,730).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute West Virginia
World rank · ARWU#501-600#501-600
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate63.5%89%
Yield rate14.4%26.5%
Median SAT14561110
Avg. GPA3.933.70
Number of applications14,35620,150
International students2.2%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K$56K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$71K$36K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$84K
Graduation rate83.6%64.7%
Retention rate91%83.4%
Median debt$23,750$22,500
Tuition · year$67,976$28,608
Avg. aid package$50,402$16,730
% of need met66.2%63%
Avg. graduate debt$39,539$36,010
Application fee$70$65
Enrollment7,04223,643

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or West Virginia?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.

Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or West Virginia graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $56K.

How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs West Virginia?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

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

The average aid package is $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and $16,730 at West Virginia.

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.