RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University

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CollegeRanker is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University Introduction

Choosing the right university for higher education is a crucial decision for students. In this comparison, we will evaluate two prestigious institutions: RPI Rensselaer and Lehigh University. We will compare various factors such as costs, admissions, academics, diversity, campus life, and outcomes to help you make an informed decision.

RPI Rensselaer Overview

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is a private research university located in Troy, New York. Founded in 1824, RPI is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in various disciplines, including engineering, science, architecture, and management.

RPI Rensselaer Costs & Tuition

Tuition at RPI for the 2021-2022 academic year is $57,100 for full-time undergraduate students. Additional fees and expenses, including room and board, can bring the total annual cost to around $76,705. Financial aid is available through scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs for eligible students, with 89% of students receiving some form of aid.

RPI Rensselaer Admissions

RPI has a competitive admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 43%. Applicants are required to submit their high school transcripts, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), letters of recommendation, and an essay. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1390, and the average ACT score is 31.

RPI Rensselaer Degrees Offered

RPI offers over 145 degree programs across five schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the Lally School of Management, and the School of Science. The most popular majors at RPI are Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

RPI Rensselaer Academics

RPI has a strong emphasis on research and innovation. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, ensuring individual attention and support for students. RPI has a four-year graduation rate of 63% and a six-year graduation rate of 83%.

RPI Rensselaer Diversity

RPI’s student body is diverse, with students representing all 50 states and over 60 countries. The gender distribution is 68% male and 32% female, and 22% of students identify as an underrepresented minority.

RPI Rensselaer Students

RPI has an enrollment of around 7,900 students, with 6,200 undergraduate and 1,700 graduate students. Students at RPI can participate in over 200 clubs and organizations, as well as various sports and recreational activities.

RPI Rensselaer Campus

RPI’s 275-acre campus is located in the historic city of Troy, New York, which offers students access to numerous cultural and recreational opportunities. The campus features modern facilities, including state-of-the-art research labs, residence halls, and athletic facilities.

RPI Rensselaer Alumni

Notable RPI alumni include inventor and entrepreneur George Eastman, civil engineer Washington Roebling, and computer scientist and Turing Award winner Barbara Liskov.

RPI Rensselaer Rankings

According to U.S. News & World Report, RPI ranks #53 among National Universities and #36 among Best Value Schools in the United States.

RPI Rensselaer Outcomes

The average starting salary for RPI graduates is approximately $70,000, and 90% of students secure employment or enter graduate school within six months of graduation.

Lehigh University Overview

Lehigh University is a private research university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Established in 1865, it offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in various disciplines, such as engineering, arts and sciences, business, and education.

Lehigh University Costs & Tuition

Tuition at Lehigh University for the 2021-2022 academic year is $56,980 for full-time undergraduate students. Additional fees and expenses, including room and board, can bring the total annual cost to around $75,730. Financial aid is available through scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs for eligible students, with 64% of students receiving some form of aid.

Lehigh University Admissions

Lehigh University has a competitive admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 22%. Applicants are required to submit their high school transcripts, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), letters of recommendation, and an essay. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1360, and the average ACT score is 31.

Lehigh University Degrees Offered

Lehigh University offers over 90 undergraduate and 50 graduate degree programs across four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The most popular majors at Lehigh are Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences.

Lehigh University Academics

Lehigh University is known for its interdisciplinary approach to learning and strong emphasis on research. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, providing students with individualized attention and support. Lehigh has a four-year graduation rate of 77% and a six-year graduation rate of 89%.

Lehigh University Diversity

Lehigh’s student body is diverse, with students representing all 50 states and over 70 countries. The gender distribution is 55% male and 45% female, and 20% of students identify as an underrepresented minority.

Lehigh University Students

Lehigh has an enrollment of around 7,000 students, with 5,100 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students. Students at Lehigh can participate in over 200 clubs and organizations, as well as various sports and recreational activities.

Lehigh University Campus

Lehigh University’s 2,358-acre campus is located in the historic city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which offers students access to numerous cultural and recreational opportunities. The campus features modern facilities, including state-of-the-art research labs, residence halls, and athletic facilities.

Lehigh University Alumni

Notable Lehigh alumni include businessman and philanthropist Lee Iacocca, engineer and inventor Terry Hart, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson.

Lehigh University Rankings

According to U.S. News & World Report, Lehigh ranks #47 among National Universities and #42 among Best Value Schools in the United States.

Lehigh University Outcome

The average starting salary for Lehigh graduates is approximately $67,000, and 95% of students secure employment or enter graduate school within six months of graduation.

RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University Cost Comparison

Both RPI Rensselaer and Lehigh University have similar tuition costs for the 2021-2022 academic year, with RPI at $57,100 and Lehigh at $56,980. When accounting for additional fees and expenses, the total annual cost for RPI is around $76,705, while it is $75,730 for Lehigh. Both institutions offer financial aid to eligible students, with 89% of RPI students and 64% of Lehigh students receiving some form of aid.

RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University Admissions Difficulty

Admissions at both RPI Rensselaer and Lehigh University are competitive, with RPI having an acceptance rate of 43% and Lehigh at 22%. The average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students are similar for both institutions, with RPI’s average SAT score being 1390 and Lehigh’s being 1360. The average ACT score for both schools is 31.

RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University Academic Difficulty

Both RPI Rensselaer and Lehigh University have a strong emphasis on research and innovation, with RPI having a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 and Lehigh at 9:1. The four-year graduation rates are 63% for RPI and 77% for Lehigh, while the six-year graduation rates are 83% for RPI and 89% for Lehigh.

RPI Rensselaer vs Lehigh University Outcome Comparison

The outcomes for graduates of RPI Rensselaer and Lehigh University are comparable, with average starting salaries of approximately $70,000 for RPI graduates and $67,000 for Lehigh graduates. Within six months of graduation, 90% of RPI students and 95% of Lehigh students secure employment or enter graduate school.