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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, commonly known as RPI, is a private research university located in Troy, New York. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest technological research university in the United States. RPI is renowned for its strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in these fields.
RPI is known for its rigorous academic programs and commitment to hands-on learning. The university places a heavy emphasis on experiential learning and practical application of knowledge. Students have numerous opportunities to engage in research projects, internships, co-op programs, and entrepreneurial activities, allowing them to gain real-world experience and prepare for successful careers in their chosen fields.
Moreover, RPI is home to several research centers and institutes that contribute to groundbreaking advancements in various disciplines. The university's faculty members are highly accomplished and well-respected researchers, often collaborating with industry partners and government agencies. RPI's research efforts are focused on areas such as energy, nanotechnology, biotechnology, data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, among others.
In addition to its academic and research excellence, RPI is known for its vibrant campus life and strong sense of community. The university offers a variety of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations that cater to a wide range of interests. RPI also boasts a rich athletic tradition, competing in NCAA Division III sports and offering numerous intramural and club sports for students to participate in. Overall, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute provides a comprehensive and well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for success in their chosen careers in STEM fields.
Located in Troy, NY and set in a suburban environment, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 58%. The freshman retention rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 89% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is December 1.
Here are some recent information on important things to consider about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Quick Facts
5,945
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
58%
Acceptance Rate
$62,500
Tuition
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and what are the admission requirements?
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 9,330 in 2024. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 49% and ACT scores 11%. 66% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 33% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 85 and 15 between 24-29.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.89. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 698 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 730.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is December 1.
58%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 89% in 2024, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution enrolled 7,015 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 65% for that year. There was a total of 5,945 undergrad students, including 523 international students. 67 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 4,763 male and 2,159 female full-time students in 2024. This school had 691 full-time graduate male and 354 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1,254, and the number of Black American students was 309. 693 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 307 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 293 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition in 2024 was $62,500 for full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,581.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,350.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was $18,120 in 2024. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $9,650, according to the data from 2024. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $1,800.
| Tuition | $ 62,500 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,120 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,350 |
| Total Expense | $ 81,970 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,031 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $50,265 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
3,439 students received some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 3,447. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $9,943,859, and state $2,382,038. The students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $148,791,760, and external in the amount of $7,873,380.
$32,191
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
3,405 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1,028 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $9,943,859 while the state aid is $3,036,422. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $63,942,411. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,781,413 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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RPI Undergraduate Transfer Application
RPI Undergraduate Transfer Application
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Rolling
Application Deadline: 2025-06-01
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 495. Out of that number, there were 356 male and 139 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Its campus spans 297 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
There are 204 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 21 and female students 15. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is RPI Ambulance, followed by Black Student Alliance and Outing Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Rensselaer Music Association and Humans Vs. Zombies.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a passion for media and communication? Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services are available to the students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
All in all, campus life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Career Counselling
At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 85,953 USD.
$85,953
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 62,500 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 58%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 89%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.