National university
#19 Best colleges in New YorkRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $36,228 a year
Median debt at graduation: $23,750 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Upcoming admissions events
- Fall Open HouseNovember 14, 2026 · Fitzroy Admissions Building, 2 Eaton Road, Troy NYMore about Fall Open HouseAdd to calendar
View all upcoming events · From the college's admissions website.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for business in America#87 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#73 of 1,238
- Best colleges in America#143 of 1,829
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#152 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#118 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#128 of 1,481
Show 13 more
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#120 of 1,358
- Best colleges for art and design in America#118 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#123 of 1,215
- Best mid-size colleges in America#69 of 667
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#122 of 1,162
- Best colleges for computer science in America#82 of 750
- Best colleges for music in America#118 of 1,063
- Best colleges for engineering in America#92 of 749
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#78 of 598
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#58 of 430
- Best colleges for economics in America#120 of 788
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#112 of 690
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#162 of 704
In New York
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in New York#5 of 82
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in New York#12 of 135
- Best colleges for business in New York#10 of 109
- Best test-optional colleges in New York#16 of 125
- Best colleges in New York#19 of 135
- Best colleges for psychology in New York#14 of 96
Show 12 more
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New York#10 of 67
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in New York#9 of 60
- Best colleges for computer science in New York#7 of 46
- Best colleges for art and design in New York#13 of 85
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in New York#14 of 88
- Best colleges for mathematics in New York#14 of 81
- Best mid-size colleges in New York#11 of 61
- Best colleges for chemistry in New York#14 of 76
- Best colleges for economics in New York#14 of 73
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in New York#16 of 80
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in New York#16 of 79
- Best colleges for music in New York#14 of 59
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,456 · ACT 32
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$20,696
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $82,404 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 5,954 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 69% · Women 31% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 14% |
| Total students | 7,024 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $36,228 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $82,404 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $23,750 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 84% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 81% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 81% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 92% |
| First-year retention | 91% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $102,051 |
| Admission rate | 63% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $70 |
| Early decision deadline College website, 2026-27 | November 1 |
| Second early decision deadline College website, 2026-27 | January 6 |
| Early action deadline College website, 2026-27 | December 1 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,417 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 20% |
| Average SAT | 1456 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670–740 |
| SAT math | 705–770 |
| ACT composite | 30–34 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Mathematics | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Business administration | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Design | |
| Nuclear Engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Materials Engineering | |
| Physics | |
| Architecture |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Architectural Sciences and Technology, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Broadcasting, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Communication studies, Data Analytics, Economics, Engineering Physics, Engineering Science, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, General studies, Geology and earth science, Management science, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Pre-health, Pre-law and legal studies, Psychology, Science, Technology and Society, Social sciences, Sustainability Studies, Visual and performing arts.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Business | |
| Mathematics and statistics | |
| Architecture |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 1% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $18,120 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 6%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 89%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $132,264IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 65% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Albany International Airport (ALB)About 6 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Bradley International Airport (BDL)About 74 miles away |
| Town population | 51,033Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | BostonAbout 138 miles away · about 3 hours 35 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 26°F in January · 75°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Troy L&d, NY |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.28 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.71 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 9% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $36,228 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admitted 63% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s graduates do?
- 84% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $102,051; the median federal debt at graduation is $23,750.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 194824
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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