Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Manhattan University: 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 2.9 years at Manhattan University, on median earnings of $102,051 vs $86,316 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Manhattan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,228 | $27,256 |
| Total net cost | $144,912 | $109,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,051 | $86,316 |
| Median debt | $23,750 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 2.7 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $928,908 | $650,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Manhattan University?
Manhattan University, at $27,256 a year after aid versus $36,228 — a gap of $8,972 a year, or $35,888 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Manhattan University graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $102,051 ten years after entry, $15,735 more than the $86,316 at Manhattan University. 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, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Manhattan University?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: its completers carry a median $23,750 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Manhattan University, a difference of $2,250. 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 64% at Manhattan University. 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.