RPI vs. UB

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University at Buffalo? 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.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University at Buffalo

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

RPI vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than RPI ($20,529 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 3.8% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,426 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 486% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $53,145 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 103.2% higher at RPI than at University at Buffalo (about $32,545 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University at Buffalo (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 308.1% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($43,517 vs. $10,663).

RPI vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or UB? 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 UB and RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 140 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 14.1% at UB.

RPI vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $24,100 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($201 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

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.