Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Private
Navora's full analysis of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — where an applicant's profile stands against the published cohort, requirements tracking, essays and deadlines — is free with an account.
See the full analysis — freeTest scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1375–1510
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 30–34
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 3.25–3.99
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $87,551/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $64,081 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $23,470 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $87,551/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $24,078 |
| $30k–48k | $26,289 |
| $48k–75k | $28,212 |
| $75k–110k | $36,230 |
| Over $110k | $42,541 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Rensselaer Medal — $30,000 per year (Merit)
- Rensselaer Medal Scholarship — $25,000 per year (Merit)
- RPI Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Merit)
- RPI Leadership Award — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- President's Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
- Rensselaer Achievement Award — Varies (Merit)
- Rensselaer Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- Rensselaer Leadership Award — Varies (Merit)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- Rensselaer Medal — $30,000 per year (Merit)
- Rensselaer Medal Scholarship — $25,000 per year (Merit)
- RPI Scholarship — Up to $20,000 per year (Merit)
- RPI Leadership Award — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- President's Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
- Rensselaer Achievement Award — Varies (Merit)
- Rensselaer Leadership Award — Varies (Merit)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024
Application requirements
US applicants
- Official High School Transcript
- Transcripts for Dual Enrollment/College Courses
- First Quarter or Trimester Grades
- Letter of Recommendation (Counselor or Teacher)
- SAT or ACT Scores (optional)
- General Essay/Personal Statement
- Additional Essay for Accelerated Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) Program
- Additional Essay for Architecture Program
- Additional Essay for Electronic Arts Program
- Additional Essay for Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program
- Additional Essay for Music Program
- Portfolio for Architecture Program
- Portfolio for Electronic Arts Program (optional)
- Portfolio for Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program (optional)
- Portfolio for Music Program (optional)
- Early Decision Agreement Form
- GLIMPSE Video (U.S. Students Only) (optional)
- FAFSA
- CSS Profile
- Application fee
International applicants
- Official High School Transcript
- Transcripts for Dual Enrollment/College Courses
- First Quarter or Trimester Grades
- Letter of Recommendation (Counselor or Teacher)
- SAT or ACT Scores (optional)
- General Essay/Personal Statement
- Additional Essay for Accelerated Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) Program
- Additional Essay for Architecture Program
- Additional Essay for Electronic Arts Program
- Additional Essay for Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program
- Additional Essay for Music Program
- Portfolio for Architecture Program
- Portfolio for Electronic Arts Program (optional)
- Portfolio for Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program (optional)
- Portfolio for Music Program (optional)
- Early Decision Agreement Form
- GLIMPSE Video (U.S. Students Only) (optional)
- FAFSA
- CSS Profile
- Application fee
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts), plus 7 college-specific supplements:
- State your reasons for aspiring to a career in law2000 words · Required
- State your reasons for aspiring to a career in medicine (500-750 words). 2000 words · Required
- State your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession (500-750 words). 2000 words · Required
- State your reasons for choosing the field of Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences and make reference to your portfolio, if one has been submitted (no more than 500 words).2000 words · Required
- Discuss your interest in the field of electronic arts and state how this is reflected in your portfolio, if one has been submitted (no more than 500 words).2000 words · Optional
- State your reasons for choosing the field of Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted (no more than 500 words).2000 words · Required
- Describe your interest in music and state your goals. Please include completed coursework in music, private music instruction, musical performance and production experience, or independent projects completed (no more than 500 words).2000 words · Required
Draft these in the free Essay Coach
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $102,051
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 83.6%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 90.7%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $23,750
- At graduation
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News National: #64
- WSJ: #137
- Forbes: #170
- Niche: #207
- QS: #695
Deadlines
- 2026-11-01Early Action — Non-binding early round
- 2026-11-01Early Decision — Binding early round
- 2027-01-15Regular Decision — Standard deadline
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C21–C22 · 2024
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Engineering (42%), Computer & information sciences (23%), Biological & life sciences (5%).
Student–faculty ratio: 13:1 · 48% of class sections have under 20 students.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.