Rice University vs RPI Troy

Rice University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) stand out as two prestigious institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. Rice, located in the vibrant city of Houston, Texas, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body compared to RPI, which is situated in the historic city of Troy, New York. While both universities excel in engineering and science programs, Rice has a stronger focus on the humanities and social sciences, while RPI emphasizes technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, including graduation rates, popular majors, student demographics, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Rice University
Overview
Location	Troy, New York	Houston, Texas
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	89.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	53.0%	9.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $85
SAT range	1360 - 1520	1490 - 1570
ACT range	32 - 34	34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	43.0%	46.0%
Students submitting ACT score	15.0%	29.0%
Total number of applicants	17,498	29,544
Total number of admissions given out	9,277	2,802
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,322	1,226
Yield rate	14.3%	43.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$77,763	$71,745
Average net price	$40,070	$18,521
Tuition	$57,100	$52,070
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,119 Meal plan: $7,260	Room/dormitory: $10,100 Meal plan: $4,700
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	97.0% Average amount $35,754	61.0% Average amount $51,036
Students receiving federal student loan	52.0% Average amount $5,116	9.0% Average amount $4,982
Students taking out private loans	10.0% Average amount $24,172	2.0% Average amount $24,340

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	5,614 Men 69.0% Women 31.0%	4,247 Men 51.5% Women 48.5%
Graduate students	1,160 Men 69.1% Women 30.9%	4,038 Men 63.9% Women 36.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	56.1%
International students	19.5%	25.5%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	3,930	3,533
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Texas California New York Florida Illinois

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Computer and Information Science Business Mathematics and Statistics Physical Science	Business Engineering Computer and Information Science Social Sciences Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio	13:1	6:1
Institutional accreditation	Middle States Commission on Higher Education	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	84.2%	92.3%
Dropout rate	14.9%	6.9%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer Science (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $112,746 Year 2: $119,061 Year 3: $127,865 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,880 Year 2: $92,277 Year 3: $111,450 Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,042 Year 2: $88,933 Year 3: $99,954 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,265 Year 2: $87,973 Year 3: $94,503 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,333 Year 2: $79,284 Year 3: $93,665 Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $81,333 Year 3: $90,716 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,826 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $88,913 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $80,471 Year 2: $81,702 Year 3: $85,953 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,066 Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $84,973 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,458 Year 2: $77,213 Year 3: $84,039	Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $122,770 Year 2: $129,481 Year 3: $145,256 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $128,659 Year 2: $127,993 Year 3: $134,258 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $78,801 Year 2: $83,915 Year 3: $92,763 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $87,989 Year 2: $72,884 Year 3: $81,590 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,400 Year 2: $68,219 Year 3: $76,594 History (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $49,840 Year 3: $61,295 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $50,231 Year 3: $59,421 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,232 Year 2: $35,060 Year 3: $52,284 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,009 Year 2: $46,087 Year 3: $46,363 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,474 Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $45,615

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Rice University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)?

Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas, known for its strong humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences programs, alongside its engineering offerings. RPI, located in Troy, New York, is a private technological research university with a strong focus on engineering, science, and technology-related fields. Rice has a smaller student body and a more intimate campus environment, while RPI is larger and has a more pronounced emphasis on technical disciplines.
Which school is better for engineering?

Both Rice and RPI have excellent engineering programs. RPI is particularly renowned for its engineering focus and has a long-standing reputation as a top engineering school. Rice's engineering programs are also highly regarded, especially in areas like bioengineering and nanotechnology, and benefit from its interdisciplinary approach and close ties to the Texas Medical Center. The 'better' school depends on your specific engineering interests and preferred learning environment.
How do the academic cultures differ between Rice and RPI?

Rice is known for its collaborative and supportive academic environment, often emphasizing interdisciplinary studies and a strong sense of community. RPI, while also fostering collaboration, has a more intense and technically focused academic culture, with a strong emphasis on research and innovation in STEM fields. Rice encourages a broader range of academic exploration, while RPI is more specialized.
What are the differences in campus life and location?

Rice is located in the heart of Houston's Museum District, offering easy access to cultural attractions, a vibrant city life, and the Texas Medical Center. Its campus is known for its beautiful architecture and residential college system, fostering a close-knit community. RPI is located in Troy, New York, a smaller city with a rich history. RPI's campus is more focused on academic and research facilities, and while it has a strong campus community, the surrounding environment is different from Houston's urban setting.
How do the costs of attending Rice and RPI compare?

Both Rice and RPI are private universities with significant tuition costs. However, Rice is known for its generous financial aid packages, particularly for students from low- and middle-income families. RPI also offers financial aid, but the overall cost of attendance and the availability of aid packages can vary. It's essential to compare the net cost (tuition minus financial aid) for each school based on your individual financial situation.
Which school is better for students interested in research?

Both Rice and RPI are research-intensive universities, offering numerous opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in cutting-edge research. RPI has a strong emphasis on technological research and innovation, with state-of-the-art facilities and research centers. Rice also has significant research activity, particularly in areas like nanotechnology, bioengineering, and materials science, and benefits from its proximity to the Texas Medical Center. The 'better' school depends on your specific research interests and the faculty expertise available at each institution.
How do the career services and alumni networks compare?

Both Rice and RPI have strong career services departments that provide students with resources for internships, job placement, and career development. RPI's alumni network is particularly strong in the engineering and technology sectors, while Rice's alumni network is diverse and well-connected across various industries, including business, law, medicine, and the arts. Both schools offer excellent opportunities for career advancement after graduation.
What are the admission requirements and acceptance rates for Rice and RPI?

Both Rice and RPI are highly selective universities with competitive admission processes. Rice typically has a lower acceptance rate than RPI, making it slightly more difficult to get into. Both schools consider factors such as academic record, standardized test scores (though many schools are test-optional now), essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. Strong performance in math and science is particularly important for RPI, while Rice looks for well-rounded students with diverse interests and strong writing skills.
Which school is better for a student interested in a double major or interdisciplinary studies?

Rice is generally considered to be more flexible and supportive of students pursuing double majors or interdisciplinary studies. Its academic culture encourages exploration across different fields, and its residential college system fosters a sense of community that supports diverse academic interests. RPI, while also offering opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, is more focused on its core STEM disciplines, which might make it slightly more challenging to pursue a double major in a non-STEM field.
How do the graduate programs at Rice and RPI compare?

Both Rice and RPI offer a wide range of graduate programs. RPI is particularly strong in engineering, science, and technology-related graduate programs, with a focus on research and innovation. Rice also has excellent graduate programs in these areas, as well as strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, and business. The 'better' school for graduate studies depends on your specific field of interest and the faculty expertise available at each institution. Researching specific programs and faculty is crucial when considering graduate studies.

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