Southern California vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Southern California admits 9.8% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.
The more international environment is at Southern California (13.2% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Southern California awards $25,384.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $92K.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 63.5% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $92K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 63.5% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1456).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $92K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 83.6%).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $50,402).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 63.5% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 14.4% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1456 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 14,356 |
| International students | 13.2% | 2.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $71K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 83.6% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 91% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $23,750 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $67,976 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $50,402 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 66.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $39,539 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 7,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.
Do Southern California or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $92K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern