Fashion Institute of Technology vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: which has better ROI?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,912 in 2.7 years versus 2.7 years at Fashion Institute of Technology, on median earnings of $102,051 vs $62,696 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fashion Institute of Technology | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,095 | $36,228 |
| Total net cost | $38,190 | $144,912 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,696 | $102,051 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 2.7 yrs | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $248,530 | $928,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fashion Institute of Technology or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Fashion Institute of Technology, at $19,095 a year after aid versus $36,228 — a gap of $17,133 a year, or $106,722 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fashion Institute of Technology or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $102,051 ten years after entry, $39,355 more than the $62,696 at Fashion Institute of Technology. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Fashion Institute of Technology or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Fashion Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a difference of $11,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, against 81% at Fashion Institute of Technology. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.