US CollegesGetting in
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1456 out of 1600 (midpoints: 700 in reading and writing, 740 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 33 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $66,032 |
| Room and meals on campus | $18,560 |
| Books and supplies | $1,380 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $85,291 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $32,758 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 114% above the median net price of colleges in New York on this site ($15,275). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $25,140 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $25,313 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $31,222 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $33,659 |
| Above $110,000 | $35,346 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | NY median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 91% | 79% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 80% | 50% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $113,011 | $60,260 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $24,250 | $19,500 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in New York and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
22% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 52% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 31% women and 69% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 45 of the 254 colleges in New York on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,272.
Other colleges in New York of a similar size
- Mercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, private nonprofit
- SUNY BrockportBrockport, public
- State University of New York at CortlandCortland, public
- Long Island UniversityBrookville, private nonprofit
- State University of New York at OswegoOswego, public
- State University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Published tuition and fees are $66,032 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
80% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.