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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#28 in Best Colleges for Design in America
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Troy, NY
  • 985 reviews
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A+
    2. Value
      A+
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      C+
    5. Athletics
      B
    6. Party Scene
      B+
    7. Professors
      A+
    8. Location
      B-
    9. Dorms
      B-
    10. Campus Food
      C+
    11. Student Life
      A-
    12. Safety
      B+
    View Full Report Card
    RPI is a highly rated private college located in Troy, New York in the Albany Area. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,200 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the RPI acceptance rate is 44%. Popular majors include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. Graduating 80% of students, RPI alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $66,100.
    About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division III (with football)
    Athletic Conference
    Liberty League
    Address
    110 8th Street
    Troy, NY 12180
    Website
    rpi.edu

    Branch Campuses of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    • Best
    • A-Z

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    44%
    Application Deadline
    —
    SAT Range
    1320-1500
    ACT Range
    28-32
    Application Fee
    $70
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    Yes

    Test Prep

    SAT and ACT Prep Options
    Learn More
    • Affordable, effective, and enjoyable online test prep
    • Guaranteed score improvement with smart feedback and progress tracking

    Cost

    Net Price
    $37,648/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $30,596/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    88%

    Academics

    Professors
    A+
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    13:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    No
    74%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.58 responses
    74%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.66 responses
    41%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.66 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Mechanical Engineering
      226 Graduates
    • Computer Science
      167 Graduates
    • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
      101 Graduates
    • Electrical Engineering
      94 Graduates
    • Chemical Engineering
      93 Graduates
    • Aerospace Engineering
      87 Graduates
    • Computer Systems Technician
      71 Graduates
    • Business
      69 Graduates
    • Mathematics
      66 Graduates
    • Civil Engineering
      62 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    6,200Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    26
    Undergrads Over 25
    1%
    Pell Grant
    18%
    Varsity Athletes
    11%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 40 responses
    Report
    • Nerdy
      43%
    • Driven
      20%
    • Motivated
      18%
    • Nerdy trying to be a college bro.
      13%
    • Diverse
      3%
    • Don't talk much
      3%
    • Nerdy
      3%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    100%
    Poll
    51%
    of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.78 responses
    Poll
    70%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.89 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 36 responses
    Report
    • Why not change the world?
      64%
    • A community of innovative and creative minds.
      17%
    • A bunch of nerds.
      14%
    • A bunch of nerds with potential
      3%
    • a place manufactures engineers and nothing more
      3%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $82,000/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    80%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    95%
    National
    83%
    93%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.45 responses
    Colleges like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reviews

    985 reviews
    All Categories
    I liken RPI to academic boot camp...there is an overall pride in the administration for being very difficult graders. This is excellent for teaching you to grind through adversity and serves you well in the workforce, however it is terrible if you plan on applying to grad school!

    RPI is like MIT-light in the fact that it's a research institution and the administration only cares about the professors and grad students who get them big grants and notoriety. This results in an overall poor undergraduate experience however there are tons of opportunities to participate in undergraduate research which is a fantastic resume builder.

    Overall, RPI is a great school for the very serious student looking for a career the tech world. If this does not describe you, you would be better off going someplace else!
    Start Your Review of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Rate It!
    Rensselaer is a very rigorous and difficult school to be in. The academics require a lot of studying and attention as most of them deal with subjects in the STEM field, and the grading can sometimes be harsh. RPI tends to be a "top-down" administration, meaning that those in higher positions of power decide mainly what happens to the student body, sometimes regardless of how the students personally feel. While it may be the best financial decision, perhaps, it tends to create a feeling of powerlessness within the students. However, it is definitely the way to a stable future upon graduating.
    Rensselaer is an institution with rigorous curriculum and challenging academics. The atmosphere is full of curiosity and a willingness to learn and grow in whatever field you are in. Through every lecture, lab, and class, students are able to learn more than what they ever thought possible within a two or three hour period. There are a variety of clubs, organizations, and sports to join, as well, all capable of bettering the individual within his or her passions and lives.