Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

www.rpi.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$62,500

3.55% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$38,887

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

63.5%

17,175 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

7,040

95.7% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

83.6%

1,486 Graduates

About

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a higher education institution located in Rensselaer County, NY. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were Computer Science (237 degrees awarded), Mechanical Engineering (146 degrees), and Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering (92 degrees).

In 2024, 1,783 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 30.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 69.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (771 degrees), 2.71 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (284 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $62,500, which is $30,580 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $62,500, which is $30,580 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $38,887.

In 2024, 92% of undergraduate students attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 51% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$62,500

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was $62,500. The cost of tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $30,580 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$38,887

2024 Value

8.2%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $38,887. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grew by 8.2%.

This chart compares the average net price of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$17,530

Room and Board

$1,310

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was of $17,530 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 3.24% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,310. The cost of books and supplies increased by 3.97% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

92%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

51%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

92% of undergraduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 3.37% with respect to 2023, when 89% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received 17,175 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 5.48% annual growth. Out of those 17,175 applicants, 10,901 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 63.5% acceptance rate.

There were 7,040 students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2024. 49% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an overall enrollment yield of 12.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

63.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

10,901

Accepted Out of 17,175

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 63.5% (10,901 admissions from 17,175 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 58.4%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 5.48%, while admissions grew by 14.5%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

49%

Submission Percentage (2024)

643

Scores Submitted (2024)

49% of enrolled first-time students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a total enrollment of 7,040 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6,738 students and the part-time enrollment is 302. This means that 95.7% of students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 43.5% White, 19% Asian, 9.91% Hispanic or Latino, 5.09% Two or More Races, 4.63% Black or African American, 0.0426% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0284% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (29.7%), followed by White Female (14%) and Asian Male (13.9%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (21.8%), followed by White Female (12.9%) and Asian Male (4.53%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 7,040 students. The full-time enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6,738 and the part-time enrollment is 302. This means that 95.7% of students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

91%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 91%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,062 enrolled students
Asian
1,335 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
698 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 43.5% White, 19% Asian, 9.91% Hispanic or Latino, 5.09% Two or More Races, 4.63% Black or African American, 0.0426% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0284% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 319 students (4.53%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 683 fewer women than men received degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is white (771 degrees awarded). There were 2.71 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (284 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is Computer Science (237 degrees awarded), followed by Mechanical Engineering (146 degrees) and Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering (92 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (770 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (68 degrees), and Math & Statistics (92 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Software developers (1,190,359 people), Other managers (502,992 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (428,533 people), Civil engineers (327,382 people), and Mechanical engineers (230,047 people).

The most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2024 are Engineering (770 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (68 degrees), Math & Statistics (92 degrees), Physical Sciences (70 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (315 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Surgeons, Podiatrists, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

The most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Engineering (770 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (68 degrees), Math & Statistics (92 degrees), Physical Sciences (70 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (315 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Computer Systems Design (1,193,109 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (671,667 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (463,992 people), Construction (406,321 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (305,539 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Most Common (2024)

Computer Science
237 degrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering
146 degrees awarded
Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering
92 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was Computer Science with 237 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,233

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

550

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,233 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which is 2.24 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (550).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 222 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Computer Science, which is 6 times more than the 37 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 59 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering, which is 1.31 times more than the 45 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

71%

100% Completion Time

84%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 71% of students graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 84% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 85% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (90.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is Female and Asian (90.6% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.35% of graduates (20 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
771 degrees awarded
Asian
284 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
166 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is white (771 degrees awarded). There were 2.71 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (284 degrees).

4.88% of degree recipients (87 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
852 degrees awarded
White Male
849 degrees awarded
White Male
840 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is white male (852 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (849 degrees).

Operations

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at nearly $1B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 119M (11.9%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a total salary expenditure of 482M. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute employs 171 Professors, 147 Lecturers and 81 Assistant professors. Most academics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Male Professor (135), Male Lecturer (101), and Male Assistant professor (57).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are: Service, with 164 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 162 employees, and Management with 160 employees.

Endowment

$1B

2024 Endowment

8.63%

growth from 2023

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at about $1B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grew 8.63% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $748M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$191M

2024 Salaries

11%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute paid a median of $191M in salaries, which represents 39.6% of their overall expenditure ($482M) and a 11% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.06% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 0.631% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$60.5M

Instructional Salaries

481

Number of Employees

In 2024, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute paid a total of $60.5M to 481 employees working as instructors, which represents 31.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were Service with 164 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 162 employees, and Management with 160 employees.

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