A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Value
    A+
  3. Diversity
    A-
  4. Campus
    B-
  5. Athletics
    B-
  6. Party Scene
    A-
  7. Professors
    A+
  8. Location
    C
  9. Dorms
    C+
  10. Campus Food
    C+
  11. Student Life
    A
  12. Safety
    B
View Full Report Card
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division III (with football)
Athletic Conference
Liberty League
Address
110 8th Street
Troy, NY 12180
Website
rpi.edu

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
1280-1490
ACT Range
28-32
Application Fee
$70
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Cost

Net Price
$37,820/ year
National
$15,403
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $23,194/ year
  • $30-48k
    $25,993/ year
  • $49-75k
    $29,385/ year
  • $76-110k
    $34,401/ year
  • $110k+
    $40,199/ year

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.62 responses
42%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.62 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Mechanical Engineering
    190 Graduates
  • Computer Science
    133 Graduates
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
    97 Graduates
  • Chemical Engineering
    82 Graduates
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
    81 Graduates
  • Aerospace Engineering
    78 Graduates
  • Business Administration and Management
    67 Graduates
  • Architecture
    54 Graduates
  • Computer Systems Technician
    54 Graduates
  • Civil Engineering
    53 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
6,200Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
2%
Pell Grant
15%
Varsity Athletes
10%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 36 responses
Report
  • Nerdy
    47%
  • Driven
    22%
  • Motivated
    17%
  • Nerdy trying to be a college bro.
    14%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
100%
Poll
50%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.74 responses
Poll
71%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.85 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 32 responses
Report
  • Why not change the world?
    66%
  • A bunch of nerds.
    16%
  • A community of innovative and creative minds.
    16%
  • A bunch of nerds with potential
    3%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$81,700/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
80%
National
48%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
94%
National
83%
93%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.45 responses
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reviews

939 reviews
All Categories
Academics are very difficult here, but the degree is worth it. You'll come out of RPI really knowing your field. Parties are mostly through Greek Life, so it can be tricky to find parties or to get in if you are unaffiliated. The majority of people probably don't party. Campus is in a great location, short walk from downtown Troy, and the city bus service is free to students. There is so much to do at RPI and no matter who you are you'll always find a group to fit in with!
Review Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
If you are into a STEM oriented education, RPI is for you! If you graduated at the top of your class in high school, be prepared to be average because everyone else did too. This makes Rensselaer a competitive place but you will find friends that will last well after graduation. The curriculum is highly structured so don't expect to have many electives. This does assure that when you graduate you will have the knowledge and thoroughness that are expected of an RPI grad.
I've had a great time at Rensselaer so far. I've been heavily involved in Rensselaer's student-run union as well as student government. Students have a great say in what happens on campus, which is great. The academics, overall, are also amazing and comparable to what you would find at other top-tier universities for STEM. The business school is also great as well! Third best in New York, and top 50 in the country!