Home › Compare › ETH Zurich vs EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
SwitzerlandQS #7 vs #142026
ETH Zurich vs EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
A free side-by-side comparison of fees, rankings, entry requirements and admissions. Check which fits your scores and budget with the free College Predictor.
▶ Compare more universities (free)ETH Zurich vs EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) — at a glance
| ETH Zurich | EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) | |
| Country / City | Switzerland, Zurich | Switzerland, Lausanne |
| QS World rank | #7 | #14 |
| Tuition (intl) | ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) | ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) |
| IELTS | 7 | 7 |
| TOEFL | 100 | 100 |
| GRE | Not required (most programs) | Recommended |
| Acceptance rate | 27% | 30% |
| Intl students | 40% | 55% |
| Intakes | Fall (Sep), Spring (Feb) | Fall (Sep), Spring (Feb) |
| Top programs | MSc Computer Science, MSc Data Science, MSc Electrical Eng | MSc Computer Science, MSc Data Science, MSc Communication Systems |
Which should you choose?
Choose ETH Zurich if you want a more selective brand name and value Computer Science & Engineering. Choose EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) for Computer Science & Robotics. The best choice depends on your target program, budget and post-study plans — run both through the free predictor.
Frequently asked questions
- Is ETH Zurich better than EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)?
- ETH Zurich is ranked QS #7 and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) #14. "Better" depends on your course, budget and goals — ETH Zurich costs ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) with 27% acceptance, EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) with 30%. Use the free LandingPrep College Predictor to see which fits your profile.
- Which is cheaper, ETH Zurich or EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)?
- International tuition is ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) at ETH Zurich and ≈ CHF 1,460/yr (very low) at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). Add living costs and check scholarships — both are covered free on LandingPrep.
- What IELTS score do I need for ETH Zurich vs EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)?
- ETH Zurich typically requires IELTS 7 and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) IELTS 7. Confirm exact, program-specific requirements on each official site.