IIT vs. RPI

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IIT Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IIT No
  • RPI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • IIT Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IIT Yes
  • RPI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • IIT No
  • RPI No

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Institute of Technology is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (8,834 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

IIT vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or RPI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois Institute of Technology than RPI ($24,796 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Institute of Technology are 4.2% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,356 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $11,695 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.3% higher at RPI than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $11,695 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($44,547 vs. $43,517).

IIT vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT or RPI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RPI and IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 130 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at IIT (3.84).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 12.1% at RPI.

IIT vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and RPI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than IIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $79,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Institute of Technology graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, IIT graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($279 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.