University of Rochester vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

University of Rochester is the more selective of the two, admitting 39.5% of applicants versus 63.4% at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $19,771 per year at University of Rochester versus $28,212 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. University of Rochester's yield rate is 15.4%, versus 18.0% at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

University of Rochester vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricUniversity of RochesterRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Overall acceptance rate39.5%63.4%
Early acceptance rate38.0%57.9%
SAT middle 50%1420–15001390–1500
Avg unweighted GPA3.73.8
Yield rate15.4%18.0%
Class size1,1791,314
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$19,771$28,212
Net price, over $110,000 income$25,821$42,541

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is University of Rochester harder to get into than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Yes. University of Rochester admits 39.5% of applicants, compared with 63.4% at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, University of Rochester or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $19,771 per year at University of Rochester and $28,212 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, so University of Rochester is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

More comparisons

Brandeis University vs University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester vs Stevens Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Rochester vs Syracuse UniversityBrandeis University vs Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteFordham University vs Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRochester Institute of Technology vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Stats compare the schools — the simulation compares you against each school's applicant pool.

Estimate your chances at University of Rochester and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute