Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 58.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This moderately selective admission rate places RPI in a middle tier among engineering-focused institutions, making it more accessible than elite technical schools while maintaining academic standards appropriate for rigorous STEM programs.

The peer median admission rate of 70.6% indicates that RPI is somewhat more selective than typical private nonprofit institutions, though the difference is not dramatic. This level of selectivity means that solid academic credentials are important for admission, but students with strong math and science backgrounds should have realistic chances of acceptance.

Unlike highly selective engineering schools where exceptional students face significant uncertainty, RPI's admission rate suggests that well-prepared applicants can reasonably expect positive outcomes. Students should still treat RPI as a target school rather than a safety, particularly given the institution's strong reputation in engineering and technology fields.

The combination of moderate selectivity with exceptional post-graduation outcomes makes RPI an attractive option for students seeking strong STEM programs without the admission lottery dynamics of the most competitive technical institutions. For students building college lists, RPI represents a solid middle-ground choice that balances accessibility with academic quality and career outcomes.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's published cost of attendance reaches $79,934 per year, including $61,884 in tuition, $17,530 for room and board, and $1,310 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $33,139 after financial aid, representing savings of $46,795 from the sticker price.

This net price of $33,139 exceeds the peer median of $27,143 by $5,996, reflecting the premium typical of private STEM-focused institutions. The financial aid system at RPI provides substantial support, with average aid covering 58.5% of published costs.

Net prices vary significantly by family income, ranging from $21,009 for families earning under $30,000 to $39,583 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure indicates that RPI directs financial aid primarily toward students from lower and middle-income families.

The $18,574 gap between the lowest and highest income tiers demonstrates the institution's commitment to income-based affordability, though costs remain above national averages even for the lowest-income students. Students and families should expect higher educational costs than at public institutions but should also anticipate substantial financial aid that makes attendance more affordable than the published sticker price suggests.

RPI graduates demonstrate robust earnings growth and exceptional long-term financial outcomes across STEM disciplines. Median earnings rise from $83,054 six years after enrollment to $95,369 at eight years and $102,051 at ten years, representing 22.9% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes reflect data from a ten-year cohort of 813 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures across the institution's engineering and technology programs. Graduates earn $8,303 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing RPI at the 82.3rd percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics and program mix.

Low-income graduates earn $86,100, ranking among the top 5% nationally, demonstrating the institution's effectiveness in supporting economic advancement regardless of family background. The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with the gap between the 25th percentile ($71,488) and 75th percentile ($137,023) representing a 1.9:1 ratio that reflects differences in engineering specialization and career trajectory.

Approximately 26.8% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and immediate workforce entry in high-demand technical fields.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers 18 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data, reflecting strong depth in engineering and technology disciplines. Computer Engineering Technologies ranks #1 nationally with 74 graduates earning median salaries of $119,498 and achieving a perfect value score of 100.0, demonstrating exceptional return on educational investment.

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering ranks #4 nationally and #1 in New York, graduating 102 students with median earnings of $98,618 and a value score of 97.0. Computer Science ranks #36 nationally and #6 in New York, representing the largest program with 255 graduates earning $129,412.

Additional standout programs include Electrical Engineering (#14 nationally, #2 in New York), Industrial Engineering (#12 nationally, #3 in New York), and Algebra and Number Theory (#13 nationally, #3 in New York). Specialized programs like Acoustics (#5 nationally, #1 in New York) and Commercial Photography (#3 nationally, #1 in New York) demonstrate RPI's commitment to niche technical disciplines with strong market outcomes.