Rutgers vs. Pitt

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 10%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 18%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Rutgers vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($20,522 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 13.3% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($13,620 vs. $15,714).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $3,997 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Pitt than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $3,989 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (53% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 1.5% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($16,742 vs. $16,494).

Rutgers vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 40 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Pitt 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; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 13% at Pitt.

Rutgers vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Pitt? 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).

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,694 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($229 vs. $278).
  • More Pitt 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.