Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
#60 in National Universities (tie)
Overview
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private institution that was founded in 1824. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,895 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 296 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #60. Its tuition and fees are $61,884.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded on the principles of bringing science to everyday life, and that ethos is still prevalent today. About a quarter of students are involved in Greek L.I.F.E., as the fraternity and sorority scene is known at the school, which stresses Leadership, Innovation, Fortitude and Evolution. More students – more than 80 percent – play sports at the varsity, club or intramural level. True to the school’s mission, the varsity athletes are known as the Engineers, and compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Liberty League. There are also more than 200 student organizations. Freshmen must live on campus, usually in dormitories that only house first-year students. RPI’s campus, in Troy, N.Y., is nestled in an ideal location for nature lovers. The school overlooks the Hudson River, where waterfront activities abound, and is close to Grafton Lakes State Park, Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains. For an urban experience, Albany is 9 miles away.
In accordance with its specialty, RPI has a highly ranked engineering program. The school also uses its scientific specialties to offer unique accelerated programs such as the B.S./M.D. Physician-Scientist Program, completed in seven years, and the B.S./J.D. in Science, Technology and Society Law, which takes six years to finish. The university hosts technical events like the annual GameFest, a showcase of computer games designed by students. These kinds of technical skills have led Rensselaer graduates to successful careers as entrepreneurs, inventors, scientists and more. Notable RPI alumni include George W. G. Ferris, creator of the Ferris Wheel, Howard P. Isermann, inventor of sunscreen and Myles Brand, former president of the NCAA.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private institution that was founded in 1824. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,895 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 296 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #60. Its tuition and fees are $61,884.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded on the principles of bringing science to everyday life, and that ethos is still prevalent today. About a quarter of students are involved in Greek L.I.F.E., as the fraternity and sorority scene is known at the school, which stresses Leadership, Innovation, Fortitude and Evolution. More students – more than 80 percent – play sports at the varsity, club or intramural level. True to the school’s mission, the varsity athletes are known as the Engineers, and compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Liberty League. There are also more than 200 student organizations. Freshmen must live on campus, usually in dormitories that only house first-year students. RPI’s campus, in Troy, N.Y., is nestled in an ideal location for nature lovers. The school overlooks the Hudson River, where waterfront activities abound, and is close to Grafton Lakes State Park, Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains. For an urban experience, Albany is 9 miles away.
In accordance with its specialty, RPI has a highly ranked engineering program. The school also uses its scientific specialties to offer unique accelerated programs such as the B.S./M.D. Physician-Scientist Program, completed in seven years, and the B.S./J.D. in Science, Technology and Society Law, which takes six years to finish. The university hosts technical events like the annual GameFest, a showcase of computer games designed by students. These kinds of technical skills have led Rensselaer graduates to successful careers as entrepreneurs, inventors, scientists and more. Notable RPI alumni include George W. G. Ferris, creator of the Ferris Wheel, Howard P. Isermann, inventor of sunscreen and Myles Brand, former president of the NCAA.
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At-a-Glance
Setting
Suburban
Tuition & Fees
$61,884
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,895
Acceptance Rate
65%
From the School
As the first technological research university in the nation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been at the forefront of scientific and technological advances since 1824. Our alumni have been behind many key innovations that have changed the world, including the discovery of baking powder, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the development of sunscreen, and the invention of the digital camera, to name a few.
With a focus on five signature areas of research, Rensselaer researchers work to solve the most pressing issues of our time. The Institute is made up of over 30 research centers and key research platforms, such as the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, dedicated to interdisciplinary biotechnology research; the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, dedicated to the convergence of the arts, science, and technology; and the Institute for Energy, the Built Environment, and Smart Systems (EBESS), dedicated to tackling climate change by decarbonizing urban environments at the systems level. Rensselaer is also home to AiMOS, the most powerful supercomputer at a private university, which facilitates artificial intelligence research.
The university offers more than 140 programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels across five schools, including the School of Architecture; the School of Engineering; the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the Lally School of Management; and the School of Science. The newly launched accelerated degree program, ACCEL, gives highly motivated students the option to obtain a bachelor's in just three years or a bachelor's and master's degree in just four years, while still maintaining their financial aid and the key aspects of the college experience.
At Rensselaer, students learn by doing. The Arch ensures students graduate having pursued a personal or professional development experience to prepare them for global leadership. Students also have the opportunity to participate in over 200 different clubs and lead makerspaces such as the Forge.
Thanks to student demand, Rensselaer students have ample dining options, including four dining halls and 12 retail locations. The campus is home to a full-service Panera, the first Moe's on a university campus, Argo Tea, Ben & Jerry's, and more. Students with allergies are also able to dine safely on campus with "My Zone," a secured, gluten-free, peanut- and tree-nut-free "kitchen pantry" in the dining halls that offers food free of the most common allergens.
Rensselaer is a university for talented and passionate individuals who want to be part of a community of leaders who work every day to change lives and advance society. Join us as we continue to change the world!
As the first technological research university in the nation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been at the forefront of scientific and technological advances since 1824. Our alumni have been behind many key innovations that have changed the world, including the discovery of baking powder, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the development of sunscreen, and the invention of the digital camera, to name a few.
With a focus on five signature areas of research, Rensselaer researchers work to solve the most pressing issues of our time. The Institute is made up of over 30 research centers and key research platforms, such as the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, dedicated to interdisciplinary biotechnology research; the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, dedicated to the convergence of the arts, science, and technology; and the Institute for Energy, the Built Environment, and Smart Systems (EBESS), dedicated to tackling climate change by decarbonizing urban environments at the systems level. Rensselaer is also home to AiMOS, the most powerful supercomputer at a private university, which facilitates artificial intelligence research.
The university offers more than 140 programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels across five schools, including the School of Architecture; the School of Engineering; the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the Lally School of Management; and the School of Science. The newly launched accelerated degree program, ACCEL, gives highly motivated students the option to obtain a bachelor's in just three years or a bachelor's and master's degree in just four years, while still maintaining their financial aid and the key aspects of the college experience.
At Rensselaer, students learn by doing. The Arch ensures students graduate having pursued a personal or professional development experience to prepare them for global leadership. Students also have the opportunity to participate in over 200 different clubs and lead makerspaces such as the Forge.
Thanks to student demand, Rensselaer students have ample dining options, including four dining halls and 12 retail locations. The campus is home to a full-service Panera, the first Moe's on a university campus, Argo Tea, Ben & Jerry's, and more. Students with allergies are also able to dine safely on campus with "My Zone," a secured, gluten-free, peanut- and tree-nut-free "kitchen pantry" in the dining halls that offers food free of the most common allergens.
Rensselaer is a university for talented and passionate individuals who want to be part of a community of leaders who work every day to change lives and advance society. Join us as we continue to change the world!
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2024 Rankings
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Admissions
See Upcoming Events at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cost
Tuition & Fees
$61,884
Room & Board
$17,530(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$50,655
$31,456
$31,456
Tuition & Fees
$61,884
Room & Board
$17,530(2023-24)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
$50,655
*Average cost after aid
Academics
71%
12:1
54%
Popular Majors
MAJOR
% OF GRADUATES
ALUMNI STARTING SALARY
Engineering
45%
$70,133
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
21%
$83,305
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
5%
$88,864
Mathematics and Statistics
5%
$73,643
Physical Sciences
4%
$51,058
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* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.
Faculty Research Impact
Bibliometric Rank
113
Bibliometrics is the statistical analyses of publications and citations for the purpose of measuring faculty research impact.Publications Cited in Top 25% of Journals
66%
Publications Cited in Top 5% of Journals
22%
Total Papers published between 2018-2022
6,009
Citations Per Publication
12:1
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Students
5,895
Graduate Enrollment
1,096
Total Enrollment
6,991
Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students
5,823
Student Diversity
Gender Distribution
Ethnic Diversity
41%
Minority Enrollment
41%
Minority Enrollment
43%
White
20%
Asian
12%
International
11%
Hispanic
5%
Black
5%
Two or more races
5%
Unknown
Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.
Campus Life
Housing and Dorms
Types of campus housing available:
Student Activities
101+
Sports Teams
25
Fraternities
4
Sororities
After College
Graduation Rate
71%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
53%
Average Debt at Graduation
$41,523
$70,951
$70,951
Graduation Rate
71%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
53%
Average Debt at Graduation
$41,523
Reviews & Ratings
See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.
Featured User Review
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Be prepared to work, but it's worth it. This school more than adequately prepared me for the demands of a busy career. I credit my work ethic today to what I endured as an undergrad. In general, my peers at RPI were funny, hardworking, and unassuming.
Alum, USA
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Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.
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