Stevens Institute of Technology is a highly selective private university with a location in Hoboken, New Jersey in the New York metropolitan area. The institution is mid-size and has 8,000 students. Admissions are selective as Stevens' acceptance rate is approximately 43%. Majors at the institute are Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. The graduation rate after six years is 87%, and its graduates earn a median starting salary of about INR 88,20,000 (ten years post-graduation, translated from $106,000 median earnings).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a well-known private college in Troy, New York in the Albany metropolitan region. It is a mid-sized institution with 7,500 students. Admissions are selective since RPI has an acceptance rate of about 59%. General majors include Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Architecture, and Physical Sciences. The graduation rate is 86% within six years, and RPI alumni keep on enjoying a median starting salary of nearly INR 83,60,000 (converted from $100,400 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.6 Out of 10 | 4.7 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 501 Times Higher Education 2026 # 673 QS World University 2026 # 401 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 501 Times Higher Education 2026 # 695 QS World University 2026 # 401 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 74 for Engineering by US News 2025 | # 49 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 601 for Medicine by Times Higher Education 2023 # 501 for Law by Times Higher Education 2022 |
| Programs | UG Programs -32 PG Programs -48 | UG Programs -34 PG Programs -30 |
| Acceptance Rate | 43.0 % | 58.4 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-100 IELTS-6 PTE-53 SAT-1340 TOEFL-86 | SAT-1320 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 59170 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 39556 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 18650 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 55408 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 55500 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14960 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Top recruiters: Cox & Company, Amerlux and Beumer Corporation, BMW, Pepsico, Kulite Semiconductor Products, KPMG, Vonage, Vanguard and MITRE Corporation, Ericsson; Average Salaries Are Listed Below:
| The median starting salary for Rensselaer graduates was found to be $68,400, placing it among the top 10 of all national universities – tied with Princeton University and higher than Georgia Institute of Technology. |
| application requirements | Academic transcripts, SAT/ ACT scores & other standardized scores, Interview (Optional), Essay/ SOP, 2 LORs, Resume, English language proficiency | Submit official transcripts Submit English language requirements Check program specific requirements |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 68 for Business by US News 2025 # 251 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 251 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 115/160GRE - 298/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 59/90TOEFL - 88/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -45986 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -55500 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Apr 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) Nov 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) | Jan 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Stevens Institute of Technology | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1870 | 1824 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 |
| Male:Female | 71% Male, 29% Female | 32% Male, 68% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in Hoboken, New Jersey which is in close proximity to New York City; Castle Point lies across the river from Manhattan offering the most breathtaking view of New York City’s iconic skyline. | RPI's 275-acre (111 ha) campus sits upon a hill overlooking Troy and the Hudson River. The surrounding area is mostly residential neighborhoods, with the city of Troy lying at the base of the hill. The Institute runs a 15-acre (6.1 ha) campus in Hartford, Connecticut, and a distance learning center in Groton, Connecticut, the latter of which was closed in 2018. |
| Library | 49,000 print books; over 230,000 ebooks; 40,000 e-journals; University's Special Collections contains the largest abstract of items relating to Frederick Winslow Taylor, Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Calder, etc. | The mission of the Rensselaer Libraries is to support Rensselaer’s educational and research endeavors. As part of the Division of the Chief Information Officer, the Libraries actively cooperate with other Division units to provide enabling information strategies, resources, services, and technology to the diverse Rensselaer community. |
| Campus Life | Over 100 student clubs and organizations; 25 NCAA Division III varsity sports; Sports facilities include Walker Gymnasium, Dobbelaar Baseball Field, Schaefer Athletic Center, Stevens Tennis Court, DeBaun Aquatic Center, etc.; Student Wellness Center, Stevens Career Center (offering students with career outcomes), DeBaun Performing Arts Center (PAC) offers Stevens Choir, Stevens Concert Band, Stevens Jazz Band, Stevens Orchestra, etc. | The students of RPI have created and participate in a variety of clubs and organizations funded by the Student Union. About 170 of these organizations are funded by the Student Union, while another thirty, which consist mostly of political and religious organizations, are self-supporting.RPI has around twenty intramural sports organizations, many of which are broken down into different divisions based on level of play. Greek organizations compete in them as well as independent athletes. There are also thirty-nine club sports. Given the university's proximity to the Berkshires, Green Mountains and Adirondacks, the Ski Club and the Outing Club are some of the largest groups on campus. The Ski Club offers weekly trips to local ski areas during the winter months, while the Outing Club offers trips on a weekly basis for a variety of activities. Another notable aspect of student life at RPI is the "First-Year Experience" (FYE) program. Freshman begin their stay at RPI with a week called "Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond" or NRB week. The Office of the First-Year Experience provides several programs that extend to not only freshman, but to all students. These include family weekend, community service days, the Information and Personal Assistance Center (IPAC), and the Community Advocate Program. |
| Hostel | #Housing and Meals - $18650 | #On campus - $14960 |
| Famous Alumni | 50,000 alumni; Lawrence Babbio Jr. (Businessperson); Frederick Reines (American physicist), Alexander Calder (American sculptor), Frederick Winslow Taylor (American mechanical engineer), Greg Gianforte (US Representative), Richard Reeves (American writer), Igor Bensen (American-Russian engineer), Henry Gantt (American mechanical engineer), Peter Cooper Hewitt (American electrical engineer), Igor Ansoff (American-Russian mathematician), Thomas J. Walsh (Former American senator). | John J. Albright (1868), businessman and philanthropist Truman H. Aldrich (1869), civil engineer, also briefly a US State Representative |
| City Life | Hoboken- City in Hudson County, New Jersey; Nicknamed the Mile Square City; Lower Manhattan is a 10-minute train ride away; Dining choices- in-and-out pizzerias, restaurants, pubs, Italian delis, annual Hoboken MutzFest; Famous places Monroe Center for the Arts, Mile Square Theatre, Church Square Park, Columbus Park, Elysian Park, Stevens Park, Pilsener Haus & Biergarten, Hoboken Waterfront Walkway, Barsky Gallery; Unemployment rate: 1.6% (Dec 2019). | Troy, NY is an exciting city situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Rensselaer County. Home to two major universities - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Russell Sage College - Troy provides its residents with plenty of outdoor resources perfect for activities like fishing on Tomhannock Reservoir or biking through Onondaga Park. The city itself offers its residents many restaurants, unique shops and other amenities that make living here so enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for great cultural attractions or simply want an urban escape — Troy is sure to please! Troy, NY has an overall above average cost of living thanks largely in part to its high real estate values and tax rates when compared other places within New York and the nation as a whole but can vary depending on neighborhood. |
| Weather |
Stevens Institute of Technology vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) ranks #695 in QS and 401-500th in Times Higher Education globally, with high subject rankings in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, and Architecture. Stevens Institute of Technology is ranked #673 in QS and 401-500th in Times Higher Education worldwide and is very highly regarded in the U.S. for Engineering, Computer Science, Business (particularly analytics and finance), and Naval Architecture. RPI has a slightly higher research reputation, while Stevens leads in technology-oriented, industry-focused education.
General Information
RPI, established in 1824 in Troy, New York, is the oldest research technological university in America with approximately 7,000 students. It focuses on a technologically intensive curriculum with firm traditions in applied sciences and engineering. Stevens, established in 1870 in Hoboken, New Jersey, has approximately 9,000 students and has been dubbed the "Innovation University", with its campus riverside of New York City. Stevens is especially renowned for entrepreneurial culture and combining technology with business.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both are selective private schools. RPI has an acceptance rate of about 59% and admitted students typically have solid STEM backgrounds. Stevens has an acceptance rate of approximately 43% and also draws academically sound applicants, particularly for engineering, computer science, and quantitative finance. Both need strong math/science preparation, but Stevens being close to NYC draws a lot of students interested in finance, consulting, and technology startups, whereas RPI focuses on engineering innovation and depth of research.
Research Impact & Facilities
RPI is known for large-scale computing and engineering research, with facilities such as the Center for Computational Innovations and the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). Stevens has robust research in financial technology, artificial intelligence, maritime engineering, and cybersecurity, frequently connected with industry collaborations in New York. Although RPI possesses more traditional and large-scale STEM labs, Stevens takes advantage of its urban-industrial affiliations for advanced applied research.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both institutions are costly, at around $61,000–$63,000 per year, not including fees and housing. Both institutions offer merit- and need-based scholarships but tend to highlight career-focused scholarships and industry fellowships at Stevens and STEM-based aid as well as research assistantships at RPI. Both are not cheap, but both have excellent ROI due to career success.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Stevens is extremely well-ranked in the U.S. for return on investment, with strong salaries upon graduation in finance, consulting, engineering, and technology. Its proximity provides direct access to the job market of New York City. RPI alumni fare just as well, especially in engineering, research, aerospace, IT, and entrepreneurship. Innovators in science, architecture, and business are among its noted alumni. Stevens has a plus in finance and applied technology professions, whereas RPI excels at engineering innovation and research-oriented fields.
