RPI vs. Rhodes College

Should I go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rhodes College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RPI or Rhodes College 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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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs. Rhodes College comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College
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Overview

RPI Rhodes College
Location Troy, NY Memphis, TN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 6,968 2,008
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #119
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu rhodes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RPI Rhodes College
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $52,000
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $52,000
Room & Board $16,980 $12,296
Avg Net Price $39,127 $30,672
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $35,712
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 97%

Admission

RPI Rhodes College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 5,253
Admitted 10,878 2,832
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 53.9%
Enrolled % 18.4% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.99
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34 28/32
SAT Range 1360/1520 1310/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

RPI Rhodes College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

RPI Rhodes College
Graduation Rate 84% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $59,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $26,217
Median Loan Payment $284 $271

Diversity

RPI Rhodes College
% Men 69% 42%
% Women 31% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 74%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 11% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

RPI Rhodes College
% In-State 36% 33%
% Out-of-State 58% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Rhodes College based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 2,008 students)

RPI vs. Rhodes College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Rhodes College?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 12.7% more expensive to attend than Rhodes College for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.7% higher at RPI than Rhodes College ($58,600.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhodes College than RPI ($30,672 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhodes College are 38.1% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($12,296 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rhodes College than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (97% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 8.2% larger than aid received Rhodes College ($38,636 vs. $35,712)

RPI vs. Rhodes College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 62 points higher than at Rhodes College (1306)
  • Incoming RPI students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at Rhodes College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Rhodes College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Rhodes College (53.9%)

RPI vs. Rhodes College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or Rhodes College? 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 Rhodes College and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Rhodes College (84% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $23,100 more per year than Rhodes College graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $59,400)
  • Rhodes College students graduate with a $1,283 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($26,217 vs. $27,500)
  • Rhodes College graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($271 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rhodes College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 79%)

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