Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

www.rpi.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$57,100

2.7% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$40,070

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.525%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

53%

17,498 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

6,774

99% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

84.2%

1,161 Graduates

About

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a higher education institution located in Rensselaer County, NY. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were Computer Science (262 degrees awarded), Mechanical Engineering (239 degrees), and Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering (114 degrees).

In 2021, 2,179 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 32.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 67.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,008 degrees), 3.55 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (284 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $57,100, which is $28,108 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $57,100, which is $28,108 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $40,070.

In 2021, 87% of undergraduate students attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 45% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$57,100

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was $57,100. The cost of tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $28,108 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$40,070

2021 Value

1.45%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $40,070. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grew by 1.45%.

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

$15,954

Room and Board

$1,250

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was of $15,954 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 2.4% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,250. The cost of books and supplies did not change 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

87%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

45%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

87% of undergraduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2020, when 87% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.525%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 0.525%, which represents 6 out of the 1143 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received 17,498 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 5.02% annual growth. Out of those 17,498 applicants, 9,277 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 53% acceptance rate.

There were 6,774 students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2021. 43% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an overall enrollment yield of 14.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

53%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

9,277

Accepted Out of 17,498

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was 53% (9,277 admissions from 17,498 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 57.3%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 5.02%, while admissions declined by −2.76%..

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

43%

Submission Percentage (2021)

571

Scores Submitted (2021)

43% of enrolled first-time students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a total enrollment of 6,774 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6,704 students and the part-time enrollment is 70. This means that 99% of students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 42.2% White, 15.9% Asian, 9.54% Hispanic or Latino, 4.74% Two or More Races, 4.58% Black or African American, 0.103% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0148% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (28.9%), followed by White Female (13.8%) and Asian Male (11.1%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (26.3%), followed by White Female (12.5%) and Asian Male (3.77%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

99%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 6,774 students. The full-time enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6,704 and the part-time enrollment is 70. This means that 99% of students enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

89%

2021 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 89%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2021)

White
2,858 enrolled students
Asian
1,079 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
646 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 42.2% White, 15.9% Asian, 9.54% Hispanic or Latino, 4.74% Two or More Races, 4.58% Black or African American, 0.103% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0148% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 234 students (3.45%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 781 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 (1,008 degrees awarded). There were 3.55 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 (262 degrees awarded), followed by Mechanical Engineering (239 degrees) and Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering (114 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (1,013 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), and Math & Statistics (128 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 (944,501 people), Other managers (476,745 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (385,624 people), Civil engineers (275,294 people), and Postsecondary teachers (224,750 people).

The most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2021 are Engineering (1,013 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), Math & Statistics (128 degrees), Physical Sciences (99 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (388 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Engineering (1,013 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), Math & Statistics (128 degrees), Physical Sciences (99 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (388 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (1,032,998 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (610,486 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (433,917 people), Construction (346,508 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (274,100 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 (2021)

Computer Science
262 degree-majors awarded
Mechanical Engineering
239 degree-majors awarded
Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering
114 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was Computer Science with 262 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

1,480

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

699

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 1,480 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which is 2.12 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (699).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 254 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Computer Science, which is 6.2 times more than the 41 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 71 degrees were awarded to men at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Mechanical Engineering, which is 0.326 times less than the 218 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

66%

100% Completion Time

85%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 66% of students graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 85% 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.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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, 1.12% of graduates (13 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,008 degrees awarded
Asian
284 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
176 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is white (1,008 degrees awarded). There were 3.55 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (284 degrees).

1.61% of degree recipients (35 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Male
686 degrees awarded
White Female
322 degrees awarded
Asian Male
180 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is white male (686 degrees awarded). There were 2.13 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (322 degrees).

Operations

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at nearly $1.07B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 323M (30.3%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had a total salary expenditure of 400M. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute employs 166 Professors, 108 Lecturers and 76 Associate professors. Most academics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are Male Professor (138), Male Lecturer (73), and Male Associate professor (49).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are: Service, with 146 employees, Management, with 139 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 123 employees.

Endowment

$1.07B

2021 Endowment

43.9%

growth from 2020

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at about $1.07B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grew 43.9% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $678M 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: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$159M

2021 Salaries

10.5%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute paid a median of $159M in salaries, which represents 39.9% of their overall expenditure ($400M) and a 10.5% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$48.9M

Instructional Salaries

405

Number of Employees

In 2021, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute paid a total of $48.9M to 405 employees working as instructors, which represents 30.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

166 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

146 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were Professor with 166 employees, Lecturer with 108 employees, and Associate professor with 76 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were Service with 146 employees, Management with 139 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 123 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Lecturer
Male Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was Male Professor with 138 employees, Male Lecturer with 73 employees, and Male Associate professor with 49 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.