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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · City · 5,714 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$36,228
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
83%
Graduation rate
70% typical
$102,051
Earnings 10 years on
$63,395 typical
63%
Acceptance rate
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
About

Founded as the nation's first technological research university, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, is renowned for powerhouse programs in engineering, computer science, architecture, and game design. The university distinguishes itself through its signature "Arch" program, where students complete on-campus coursework during the summer after their sophomore year before embarking on a dedicated semester of off-campus co-ops, research, or global study. Campus culture is hands-on, collaborative, and innovation-driven, energized by spirited Division I hockey games, vibrant maker spaces, and access to cutting-edge resources like the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) and an on-campus IBM Quantum System One.

Wikipedia:Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university in Troy, New York, United States. It is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world and in the Western Hemisphere. Stephen Van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton established RPI in 1824 for the "application of science to the common purposes of life".

Location
Troy, NY, 12180-3590 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
ALB · Albany
7 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$64,081
Housing & food (on campus)$18,120
Books & supplies$1,350
Cost of attendance$82,404
Average net price$36,228
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$64,081
Housing & food (on campus)$18,120
Books & supplies$1,350
Cost of attendance$82,404
Average net price$36,228
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$24,078
$30–48k
$26,289
$48–75k
$28,212
$75–110k
$36,230
$110k+
$42,541
Grants from the school
95% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $41,605
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
83%
Within 4 yrs
72%
Back for yr 2
91%
Transferred
2%
Pell students: 78.0% · others: 84.8% 
8 yrs after starting
85% graduated · 7% transferred · 8% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$83,054
10 yrs after entry$102,051
Debt
Median at graduation$23,750
Monthly payment$252
Middle 50% owe$17k–$35k
90th percentile$39,349
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
63%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1456
R 670–740 · M 705–770
ACT midpoint
33
Comp 30–34
SAT middle 50%: 1375–1510
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 65.4% · women 59.9% 
Yield: 12.1% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 69%Women 31%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
14 : 1
Pell grant
20%
First-gen
14%
Family income
$96,975
Independent
2%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
1%
Where first-years come from
In state (NY)
36.8%
Out of state
57.6%
International
4.3%

Most out-of-state first-years from: MA 143 · NJ 134 · CT 112 · CA 60 · PA 52

Race & ethnicity
White
45%
Hispanic
11%
Black
5%
Asian
22%
Two or more
6%
Non-resident
7%
Unknown
5%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III with football
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's
  • Ice Hockey
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$83,054
After 10 yrs
$102,051
Computer Science250
Mechanical Engineering162
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering117
Mathematics75
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering69
Biomedical/Medical Engineering65
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians62
Chemical Engineering61
Business Administration, Management and Operations58
Architecture56
Civil Engineering53
Physics42
Computer and Information Sciences, General35
Design and Applied Arts34
Industrial Engineering29
Biology, General28
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$1.0B
Full-time faculty
89%
Faculty salary
$13,820/mo
Teaching spend
$20,696
per student
Federal loans
51%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$140M research spending · 130 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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