Rutgers vs. RIT

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Rutgers vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or RIT ? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than RIT ($20,522 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 2.7% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($15,714 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 230.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $41,345 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.3% higher at RIT than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $21,833 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (98% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 109.5% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($35,077 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or RIT ? 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 RIT and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 30 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming RIT students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Rutgers vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and RIT ? 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $5,785 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($22,215 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($229 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 68%)

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.