- AcademicsA+
- ValueA+
- DiversityA-
- CampusB-
- AthleticsB-
- Party SceneA-
- ProfessorsA+
- LocationC
- DormsC+
- Campus FoodC+
- Student LifeA
- SafetyB
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
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%
SAT Range
1280-1480
ACT Range
28-32
Application Fee
$70
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
Yes
Application Website
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and GPA for Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteSee Other Colleges
Cost
Net Price
$37,434/ year
National
$15,523Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
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
- 73%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.64 responses
- 41%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.64 responses
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
190 GraduatesComputer Science
133 GraduatesBioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
97 GraduatesChemical Engineering
82 GraduatesElectrical and Electronics Engineering
81 GraduatesAerospace Engineering
78 GraduatesBusiness Administration and Management
67 GraduatesArchitecture
54 GraduatesComputer Systems Technician
54 GraduatesCivil Engineering
53 Graduates
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
6,200Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
17%
Varsity Athletes
10%
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.76 responses
Poll
- 70%
- of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.87 responses
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$77,900/ year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
80%
National
49%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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reviews
954 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!
Rensselaer is a great school, don't get me wrong, but it is waaaaayyyy too expensive. At $71,000 per year with an inflation rate of about $2,000 per year, it is more expensive than even Ivy League schools. Now that being said, if you are into music, you are nerdy, and you like video games, then this school is for you!
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.