Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Troy, New York · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- Early Action
- 14,356
- Applicants
- 9,655
- Admitted67%
- 1,394
- Enrolled
- 14%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective67% admittedRanked #69 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #36 (tie), Business Programs #72 (tie), Computer Science #49 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (see the source), read on 2026-10-21.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private nonprofit university in Troy, New York that admits about 67% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $36,228 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 80% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private institution located in Troy, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 67%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1450 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,228 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
80% of enrolled students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.93, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute weight in admissions?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Important
4- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
Considered
7- Standardized test scores
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
4- Interview
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 705–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1380 |
| 50th percentile | 1450 |
| 75th percentile | 1500 |
| % submitting SAT | 53% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 13% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for Fall 2027 entry, except the Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) program, which requires official scores.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 63% |
| Top 25% of class | 90% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 28% |
How much does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute actually cost?
Published tuition is $64,081 for in-state students and $64,081 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,120 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,228 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $66,300 |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $36,228 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 63% |
| Average need-based grant | $9,303 |
| Average merit award, no financial need520 first-year students received one | $36,385 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 55% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $39,539 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS ProfileCollege Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 3/11 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 3 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 69% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | December 1 |
Will my child graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
These predict outcomes at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The most popular undergraduate programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. Across all programs, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute confers roughly 1,011 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $148,254 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 284 | $148,254 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 212 | $94,402 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 112 | $98,049 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 107 | $116,079 |
| Mathematics | 83 | $106,266 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 80 | $135,609 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 70 | $111,812 |
| Chemical Engineering | 63 | $107,062 |
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
About 54% of undergraduates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 17% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Common questions parents ask about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
What GPA do I need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
80% of enrolled students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.93, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 705–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34.
How much does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute after grants and scholarships is $36,228 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $64,081. Budget against the net figure.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute realistic for my child?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 67% of applicants, so 705–770 SAT Math is target range and below 705 is a reach. Then check the $36,228 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts about 67% of applicants out of roughly 14,356 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute test-optional?
Yes. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Test-optional for Fall 2027 entry, except the Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) program, which requires official scores.
What is the graduation rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
About 80% of students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate within six years, and 68% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 69%, compared with its overall rate of 67%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute look for in applicants?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a public or private school, and where is it located?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private nonprofit institution located in Troy, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The largest undergraduate majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by annual graduates are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. The school awards about 1,011 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reported 11 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 54% of undergraduates live on campus, 17% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers