Overview of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research institution situated in Troy, New York. RPI has a 13-to-1 student/faculty ratio and more of an undergraduate focus than many top engineering schools. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. RPI can also boast of an 86% six-year graduation rate. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via many clubs and organizations. In athletics, RPI has a competitive Division I hockey team. Other popular sports include swimming, basketball, football, soccer, and Track & Field.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 7,962 (6,628 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 68 percent male/32 percent female
• 100 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $55,378
• Books: $1,250
• Room and Board: $15,580
• Other Expenses: $1,608
• Total Cost: $73,816

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 82 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 82 percent
  • Loans: 53 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $31,034
  • Loans: $7,384

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields; and Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 92 percent
•  Transfer-Out Rate: 2 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 62 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 86 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field

Overview of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which accepts well under half of the applicants, has selective admissions. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps. Students should make a campus visit to determine if the institution is a good fit for them.

Admissions Data                        

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, RPI had an acceptance rate of 43%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 43 students gained admission, making RPI’s admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 72% of students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals that most of RPI’s students score within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to RPI scored between 640 and 720 on the evidence-based reading and writing part, while 25% scored under 640, and 25% scored over 720. 50% of students scored between 690 and 780 on the math part, while 25% scored under 690, and 25% scored over 780. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1500 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at RPI.

ACT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 28% of students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that most RPI students score within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to RPI received a cumulative ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored over 33, and 25% scored under 29.

GPA

In 2019, the mean high school GPA of RPI’s freshmen class was 3.78, and 69% of students had GPAs of 3.75 or higher. Successful applicants to RPI have A grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Dallas, Stony Brook University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of California, Davis

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Boston College, Boston University, Tulane University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, Villanova University, Southern Methodist University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

Brown University, Cornell University, University of Notre Dame, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgetown University

Applying to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/apply

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://admissions.rpi.edu/graduate

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://apply.rpi.edu/register/Non-Matriculated_Grad