MIT vs. RPI

Should I go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MIT or RPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

MIT RPI
Location Cambridge, MA Troy, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 11,858 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #8 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mit.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MIT RPI
Tuition (In State) $57,590 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $57,590 $58,600
Room & Board $18,790 $16,980
Avg Net Price $20,232 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $45,591 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 90%

Admission

MIT RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,767 16,863
Admitted 1,337 10,878
Acceptance Rate 4% 64.5%
Enrolled % 85% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 35/36 30/34
SAT Range 1530/1580 1360/1520
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

MIT RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

MIT RPI
Graduation Rate 93% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $142,100 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,316 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $179 $284

Diversity

MIT RPI
% Men 57% 69%
% Women 43% 31%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 37% 59%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 15% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 10% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

MIT RPI
% In-State 7% 36%
% Out-of-State 81% 58%

Campus

MIT RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (11,858 students vs. 6,968 students)

MIT vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 1.8% more expensive to attend than MIT for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.8% higher at RPI than Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($58,600.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than RPI ($20,232 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 10.7% lower than costs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,980 vs. $18,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Massachusetts Institute of Technology (90% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 18% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($45,591 vs. $38,636)

MIT vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or MIT .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1507) is 139 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming MIT students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than MIT (4%)

MIT vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MIT or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and MIT.

  • The graduation rate at MIT is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (93% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn on average $59,600 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($142,100 vs. $82,500)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology students graduate with a $10,184 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($17,316 vs. $27,500)
  • MIT graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($179 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/