American University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Compare two schools with tuition, admission, test scores, and more academic characteristics.

  • Both American University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are private.
  • American University is located in Washington, DC and RPI is located in Troy, NY.
  • RPI has more expensive tuition of $61,884 than American University ($56,543).
  • American University has tighter acceptance rate of 29.40% than RPI (43.17%).
  • RPI has higher SAT scores of 1,450 than American University (1,370).
  • American University is larger with 13,885 students than RPI (6,968 students).
American University

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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#57 in National Universities
#3 in District of Columbia
Rankings#49 in National Universities
#14 in New York
Private, 4-yearsSchool TypePrivate, 4-years
Washington, DCLocationTroy, NY
Known asRPI
1 Year Certificate
Associate
Bachelor's
Post-Bachelor Certificate
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional Practice)
Offered DegreesBachelor's
Post-Bachelor Certificate
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Research University (high research activity)Carnegie ClassificationResearch University (very high research activity)
Tuition & Fees
$56,543Undergraduate$61,884
$33,239Graduate$61,873
$30,338Financial Aid$35,552
Admission
$75 undergraduate
$63 graduate
Application Fee$70 undergraduate
$75 graduate
29.40%Acceptance Rate43.17%
32.47%Yield19.75%
1,370 SAT, 31 ACTTest Scores1,450 SAT, 33 ACT
Student Population
13,885Total Students6,968
7,917Undergraduate5,902
5,968Graduate1,066
1,516Online Enrollment
Graduation Rate & Outcomes
79%Graduation Rate83%
Transfer-out Rate
86%Retention Rate89%
$67,700Average Earning after Graduation$86,000
Special Learning Opportunities and Student Services
Online Degree/Certificate Program Offered for Both Undergraduate and GraduateDistance Learning (Online Classes)Not Offered
ROTC
Study Abroad
Weekend/Evening College
Teacher Certifiate
Special OpportunitiesROTC
Study Abroad
✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 4,214)
$10,400 average annual costs
On-Campus Living✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 3,930)
$9,370 average annual costs
Not offered or not ReportedMeal Plan✔ (99 meals per week)
$7,610 average annual costs
Faculties and Staffs
11 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio12 to 1
827 Full-time
704 Part-time
Number of Faculties414 Full-time
56 Part-time
2,653 Full-time
907 Part-time
Number of Staffs1,546 Full-time
127 Part-time
$111,486 for Faculties
$84,742 Part-time
Average Salary$119,791 for Faculties
$66,946 Part-time
All data used in our site is from IPEDS (The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), U.S. Department of Education, academic year 2022-2023