Stanford vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Stanford admits 3.8% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.1% (Stanford) against 2.2% (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
Average aid for an international student is $85,424 (Stanford) and $48,307 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).
Ten years on, graduates of Stanford earn noticeably more: $124K against $102K.
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 63.5% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #501-600). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $102K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $68,574 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 Stanford for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 63.5% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1456).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $102K); Stanford has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.9% vs 83.6%).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $50,402).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stanford | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #2 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #6 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 3.8% | 63.5% |
| Yield rate | 79.9% | 14.4% |
| Median SAT | 1550 | 1456 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.94 | 3.93 |
| Number of applications | 60,646 | 14,356 |
| International students | 13.1% | 2.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $124K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $71K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $220K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 91.9% | 83.6% |
| Retention rate | 97.5% | 91% |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $23,750 |
| Tuition · year | $68,574 | $67,976 |
| Avg. aid package | $77,279 | $50,402 |
| % of need met | 100% | 66.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,507 | $39,539 |
| Application fee | $100 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 18,121 | 7,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stanford or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Stanford accepts 3.8% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.
Do Stanford or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $102K.
How much is tuition at Stanford vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,574 per year at Stanford and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Stanford and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stanford or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stanford or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The average aid package is $77,279 at Stanford and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Harvard
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina