Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York · Private nonprofit, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$36,228
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
83.6%
Admission rate
63%
Undergrad size
5,714
In-state tuition
$64,081
Out-of-state tuition
$64,081
Cost of attendance
$82,404
Median earnings (10y)
$102,051
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,456
- ACT midpoint
- 33
- Retention
- 90.7%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
16 program areas reported · Heavily focused on stem (81% of credentials).
- STEM81%
- Health1%
- Business6%
- Humanities & arts11%
- Social sciences2%
- Engineering43.2%~2,470 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science20.8%~1,191 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Business5.9%~339 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Mathematics4.3%~247 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Engineering tech4.3%~243 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Architecture4.3%~243 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~234 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~220 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~220 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~87 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~64 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Psychology0.9%~50 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Social sciences0.6%~37 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Communication0.6%~37 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~18 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~14 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 534 | $83,880 | $23,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 374 | $65,319 | $25,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. | Bachelor's | 229 | $64,354 | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 176 | $72,826 | $24,625 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 158 | $67,066 | $24,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 146 | $71,333 | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor's | 142 | $76,042 | $23,582 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 135 | $63,784 | $26,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 124 | $66,991 | $25,332 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 114 | $56,988 | $26,000 |
| Architecture. | Bachelor's | 113 | $52,282 | $31,000 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor's | 105 | $67,648 | $26,979 |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 92 | $42,448 | $20,270 |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor's | 85 | $65,458 | $22,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 81 | $78,367 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 75 | $46,471 | $25,000 |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 64 | $112,746 | — |
| Applied Mathematics. | Master's | 64 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master's | 60 | $80,471 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. | Master's | 50 | $80,073 | — |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 49 | — | $26,717 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master's | 46 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 46 | $46,292 | — |
| Civil Engineering. | Master's | 40 | $65,895 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Master's | 35 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering. | Bachelor's | 32 | $70,021 | $19,500 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 32 | — | $27,000 |
| Computer Science. | Doctoral | 29 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Master's | 29 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering. | Doctoral | 27 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering. | Bachelor's | 26 | $67,716 | $23,250 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | Bachelor's | 25 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Doctoral | 24 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 24 | $71,265 | — |
| Materials Engineering. | Doctoral | 22 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor's | 21 | $64,983 | $27,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Master's | 19 | — | — |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 19 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor's | 19 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a large institution located in Troy, New York, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 5,714 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Engineering, Computer science, Business.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $36,228 per year, which is premium-priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $64,081 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $82,404 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 83.6%, a strong completion outcome. 90.7% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $102,051 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute confers degrees and certificates across 16 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Engineering, Computer science, Business. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (81% of credentials), humanities & arts (11% of credentials), business (6% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63% of applicants, making it moderately selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,456. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 33.
Location & campus
Set in Troy, New York (city), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute draws students from across New York and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Q.How much does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cost?
The average net price at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $36,228 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $82,404.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a 6-year graduation rate of 83.6% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63% of applicants, which is considered moderately selective.
Q.How much do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate earns $102,051 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Published tuition is $64,081 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute located?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, New York (ZIP 12180).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at their official website.