WhatsApp
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute logo

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

46.8(0)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1824
Founded
1824
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

Established in New York as the Rensselaer School in 1824, the school is the oldest technological research university in the United State and a hub of innovative research and development. Rensselaer has always been at the forefront of technological development as it was among the first universities in the United States to launch an ICT program called The Rensselaer Information Technology and Web Science (ITWS) program. Presently, the school is known to be the home to one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers. 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Ranking

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is ranked:

  • 401st to 500th in world University Rankings list by Times Higher Education 
  • 383rd in QS world university ranking by QS Top Universities Ranking.
  • 50th in National Universities Ranking in the United States by US News

Highlights

College Type Private
Campus Setting Suburban
Annual Endowment 718 million USD
Student Retention Rate 93%
Work-study program Yes
Mode of Program Full time; Part-time; Online
Campus Housing Capacity 57%
The annual cost of Attendance 71,998 USD
Admission Helpdesk [email protected]

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Campus

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Campus
  • Situated on 275 acres of land at 110 Eighth Street Troy, New York, USA 12180., the campus houses a total of 746 labs, studios, and technology spaces used for research.
  • Other prominent structures on campus include a stadium, field houses, swimming pool, residential halls, and apartments, and open space for different athletic activities.
  • Currently, there are 23 fraternities and four sororities providing an array of choices for over 1,500 students who choose to be members of the Greek community.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Residence

  • First-year students, second-year students, first-year transfer students and students participating in the arch summer semester are required to live on campus while others can choose to live on campus or not.
  • Graduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic institute stay off-campus.
  • To help students find suitable off-campus apartments, Places4Students -a free, off-campus housing finder is provided for all students in the Rensselaer community.
  • On-campus residency in Rensselaer polytechnic Institute follows the CLASS (Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students), model
  • Application for on-campus residence is through the Rensselaer Residence Life's Online Services Portal.
  • There are 13 freshmen halls, six sophomore suite and apartments, three junior apartments, one senior/co-term apartment, five Arch suites and traditional halls making it a total of 28 residence buildings on campus.
  • Students with critical health or financial circumstances can request for a housing waiver.
  • Some basic amenities like AC, laundry, ethernet, cable TV, lounge, kitchen with kitchen utensils, carpet, etc are available in some halls of residence.
  • Rensselaer's non-discrimination housing policy accommodates students who are:
    • Transgender
    • Non-binary
    • Gender non-conforming
    • Do not subscribe to the gender binary construct
    • Questioning their gender identity

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Program

  • Rensselaer offers 40+ undergraduate programs, 40 graduate programs, and 28 doctorate programs across five schools.
  • Specialized programs such as Interdisciplinary programs, accelerated programs, professional programs, Graduate Level Advanced Manufacturing Certificate and 38 Co-Terminal Degree Programs popular among them are MBA, Aerospace Engineering, Quantitative Finance & Risk Analytics, etc.
  • Online courses are offered in the following areas: Mechanical Engineering (M.E.), Engineering Science (M.S.), Business Intelligence, etc.
  • Student/Faculty ratio: 13:1

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Application Process

  • Applicants can apply for admission at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute via the following portal:
    • Common Application
    • Coalition Application
  • Online application portal of the institute
  • Application fee: 70 USD for undergraduate and 75 USD for graduate admissions
  • Application requirements for international undergraduate freshmen are:
    • Academic Transcripts
    • International Student Financial Statement (ISFS)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT: 88, IELTS: 7.0, PTE:59)
    • InitialView, Vericant, or Duolingo Interview (optional)
    • Recommendation Letter
    • Essay
  • While the graduate applicants are required to submit:
    •  a personal statement
    • curriculum vitae
    • GRE or GMAT Scores (optional)
    • Portfolio (if required by department)
    • IT Background Evaluation form (for IT only)
  • Non-degree seeking applicants are expected to submit the following documents:
    • Graduate application for non-matriculated study (PDF)
    • Official academic transcript
    • 75 USD application fee
    • Photocopies of official immigration/visa documents
    • Proof of English proficiency, TOEFL score of 230 CBT/88 iBT/570 PBT (IELTS 6.5)
  • Applicants for online programs are required to submit Official Transcripts, Personal Statement, Curriculum Vitae, Two Letters of Recommendation and Non-refundable Application Processing Fee of 75 USD.

Application deadlines for UG students are presented in the table below:

Admission Plan Application Due Date Binding Notification Date
Early Decision I November 1 Yes December 14
Early Decision II December 15 Yes January 18
Regular Decision January 15 No March 7
Law/Medical Programs November 1 No Early April
  • Fall Application Deadlines for Lally MBA/MS Programs are March 15, for round 3 admission and May 15, for round 4. Other graduate programs' application deadline for the fall semester is January 1.
  • Education for Working Professionals programs accepts applications at any time.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance is presented in the table below:

Types of Expenses Amount (USD) Amount (USD)
Tuition Fees 54,000 54,000
Fees 1,378 2,694
Rooms and Boards 15,580 14,662
Books, Personal, and Supplies 2,858 2,950
Total 73,816 74,306
  • All students are required to own a laptop which may be purchased at Rensselaer for 1,350 USD.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Financial Aid

  • For Admission and financial aid, graduate applicants with a valid green card are considered as domestic students
  • The scholarships available to international students include:
    • The Rensselaer Medal for outstanding math and science students worth 120,000 USD
    • Rensselaer Leadership Award for students with an exceptional record of academic and personal achievements
  • Rensselaer also accepts students on external scholarships offered to international students in the USA .

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni

  • Members of the Alumni network organize career and networking meetups, reunion and homecoming, volunteer and financial aid to students of the institution
  • Members of the Greek life community have the opportunity to remain active after graduation from college.
  • The Alumni Inter-Greek Council (AIGC) also foster the Rensselaer Greek community and to enhance the welfare of our society.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Placement

  • The school authority in collaboration with the alumni network provides tools for career and job placement searches.
  • Rensselaer has been named among the top ten schools in the United States where students go to earn more money.
  • According to PayScale, the average salary of a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate is 71,300 USD
Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

62

Fee from

₹57,74,162.1

Exams

TOEFL · IELTS

Showing 5 of 33 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 56.5 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 60,360 /Yr
Estimated Total₹122655
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA is a private institution located in New York which offers admission to a wide number of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. There are several programs in the fields of Architecture, Business, Engineering, Humanities, IT, Science, and research projects. The institute operates through the School of Architecture, School of Engineering, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Lally School of Management, and School of Science.

In fall, the institute received applications from 18,635 students and accepted 47% out of the initial pool of applicants. Out of the accepted applicants, 19% enrolled in the institute. It currently houses 7,895 students out of which 6,628 are undergraduate students. With a 13:1, faculty-student ratio, the college is a good place to study.

Some points to be considered before applying to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are as follows:

  • Applications for admission are accepted for the fall and spring semesters.
  • International applicants can apply through Common Application or Coalition Applications.
  • A wide range of English proficiency tests is accepted by the college to encourage applications.
  • Admission to various undergraduate programs requires ACT/ SAT scores whereas graduate programs require GRE/ GMAT scores.
  • In the class, 64% of the enrolled students ranked in the top 10% of their class in high school.
  • 84% of students received financial aid from the institution.

COVID-19 Admission Updates

  • All students applying for undergraduate programs to this renowned institute of the US Education System can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores.
  • Students who have stayed back in the U.S. for the remainder of the semester will retain visa status even though classes are conducted online.
  • If students remain enrolled but report their location outside the U.S. will retain F-1 status. Students having a valid F-1 visa and returning within 5 months should not have issues in entering the country.
  • Students have the option of converting a letter grade in any spring course to a pass/No credit grade by May 15.

Highlights

Institute type Private
Application mode Common, Coalition and Candidate’s choice
Application fee 70 USD
Mode of Payment Credit card
Average SAT Score 620-710 (Evidence based reading and writing)
670-780 (Math)
Average ACT Score 28-34
Intake seasons Fall/ Spring
Academic Calendar Semester based
Admission rate 47%
Financial Aid Available

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Admission Deadlines

Both the undergraduate and graduate deadlines differ. Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters. Graduate admission for fall is only open for the management school while other deadlines apply to other schools.

Following is the table for deadlines- 

Semester Deadlines
Undergraduate
Early Decision 1 November 1
Early Decision 2 December 15
Regular admission January 15
Spring admission November 1
Graduate
Fall Rolling basis (for MBA/ MS applicants)
Spring August 15

Note: Early Decision is meant for those students who have decided Rensselaer is their first choice and is ready to withdraw applications from all other colleges if selected at Rensselaer. 

International Student Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers admission to international students from all over the world. The admission processes for domestic and international students are the same. There are some additional requirements that must be fulfilled by international applicants.

Application portal: There are 3 ways to apply to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:

  1. Common Application
  2. Coalition Application
  3. Candidate’s choice application

Application fee: 70 USD for undergraduates, 75 USD for graduates

Basic Admission Requirements 

  • Academic transcripts- All official transcripts from secondary schools with English translations
  • International Student Financial Statement- Evidence of all financial support to cover the education and living expenses of the student. Only original documents will be accepted only through the post.
  • English proficiency test scores - TOEFL, IELTS, PTE
  • Interview - Duo lingo, Initial view, Vericant accepted (To encourage admissions from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan)
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Essay/ Personal statement

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

International students aspiring to take admission to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute also have to fulfill language requirements to test their skills and English proficiency.

Test Minimum Score
TOEFL IBT 88
TOEFL PBT 570
IELTS 7.0
PTE 59

Visa Process for International Students

All students willing to take admission to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute must apply for an F-1 visa to study in the USA. There are different steps in the process for acquiring a visa. These are as follows:

  • Fill the I-20 request form
  • Provide college with a color passport picture, picture of passport and deposit the tuition fee
  • After submission, the college will enter all the information in the database of SEVIS. 
  • Appointment for a VISA interview at a U.S. embassy consulate 
  • Use the SEVIS number to get the appointment
  • Pay the SEVIS fee
  • Make a visa appointment and go for an interview 

To important guidelines to help applicants easily get through the visa issuance and maintenance process are as follows- 

  • Always keep your passport with yourself at all times and contact the embassy in case of a passport extension.
  • Registration as a full-time student at the institute is a must.
  • Keep a check on your program end date and apply for an extension to keep your I-20/DS-2019 valid.
  • Always update the ISSS and SIS on any change of address within 10 working days.
  • J-1 health insurance must be maintained.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a variety of undergraduate programs in fields related to architecture, arts, music, law, and medical programs. While applying, students will have to make a choice of specific major they want admission to.

Where to apply: Common Application/ Coalition Application/ Candidate’s choice application

Application fee: 70 USD

Admission Requirements: The following documents must be submitted along with the application for undergraduate programs:

  • Official High school transcript
  • Letter of Recommendation (Preferably from a Math or science teacher who knows you well)
  • Test Scores of SAT/ ACT (SAT code: 2757; ACT code: 2866)
  • Essay (A personal statement is required which is program-specific)
  • If applying to architecture or Music programs, you need to have a portfolio.
  • Early Decision Agreement Form (if applicable)
  • Students are expected to have high school preparation with an academic background in:
  • Mathematics (calculus recommended) – 4 years
  • Science (including chemistry and lab-based physics) – 3 years
  • English – 4 years
  • Social studies/ history – 3 years

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Graduate Admissions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers multiple full-time and part-time graduate programs in several disciplines such as architecture, business, engineering, IT, science etc. for international candidates seeking to study in the USA. Before applying for graduate programs students must have completed a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Every graduate program has separate requirements and deadlines for applying.

Where to Apply: Online application

Application Fee: 75 USD

Admission Requirements: The documents that are required for graduate program admissions are as follows:

  • Completed application
  • Transcripts and degrees earned with English translation
  • Personal statement
  • Updated CV/ resume
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Portfolio (depending on department applied to)
  • GMAT/ GRE scores

Details of the requirements of some graduate programs are given in the table below:

Requirements Management Architecture Biology
Degree MBA and MS M. Arch, MS Arch MS Biology
Application Fee 75 USD 75 USD 75 USD
Application Deadline Fall- Applications on a rolling basis
Spring- August 15
Fall- To be determined
Spring- August 15
Fall- To be determined
Spring- August 15
Fall- To be determined
CV Required Required Required
Personal Statement Required Required Required
Letter of Recommendation Required- 2 Required- 2 Required - 2
Portfolio Not required Required – Work samples Not required
English proficiency scores TOEFL IBT- 88
IELTS- 6.5
TOEFL IBT- 88
IELTS- 6.5
TOEFL IBT- 88
IELTS- 6.5
GMAT/GRE scores GMAT preferred Not required GRE test score encouraged

The institute has a good retention rate of 92% and a graduation rate of 85%. Graduate applicants need to be ready with program-specific requirements and a well-tailored resume, personal statement, letter of recommendations are mandatory for applications.

Once admitted to the institute, students must fill the ‘Confirmation Form for Admitted Students’ to confirm acceptance to the program. Students who wish to withdraw from admission must complete ‘Request Withdrawal for Admitted Graduate Students’. Besides confirmation of admission, international students must also provide financial documents, sponsor letters, and a copy of the passport ID page. These documents will also be required for initiating the visa process.

FAQs

Ques. How can I apply to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Ans. There are 3 ways to apply for an undergraduate program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. These include Common Application, Coalition Application, and Candidate’s choice application. Graduate applicants can apply by completing an online application through the website.

Ques. Is there an application fee to apply for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Ans. Yes, undergraduate applicants pay an application fee of 70 USD for applying to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Graduate applicants must pay 75 USD for completing the application. All payments must be made using a credit card.

Ques. When should I apply for an early decision at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Ans. Only if you have decided Rensselaer is your first choice and you are ready to withdraw applications from all other colleges if selected at Rensselaer then go for an early decision deadline.

Ques. Do I need to submit a letter of recommendation to apply for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Ans. Yes, submission of at least 1 letter of recommendation for undergraduate programs and 2 letters of recommendation for graduate programs is necessary to apply at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The recommendation can be from a teacher, counselor, or a professional one.

Ques. Can I withdraw my name from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute after selection is complete?

Ans. Yes it is possible to withdraw from admission after Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has declared the results. To do so, you must complete ‘Request Withdrawal for Admitted Graduate Students’.

Placements & Recruiters

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Placement Details

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Troy, New York, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2022

Highlights
2022
  • Best overall country rank: #43
  • Materials Sciences: #19 in country
  • Top source: ARWU
  • 21 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Mathematics
  • 5 ranking records in 2022

2023

Highlights
2023
  • Best overall country rank: #61
  • Computer Science: #18 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 22 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
  • 3 ranking records in 2023

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Best overall country rank: #30
  • Materials Sciences: #25 in country
  • Top source: QS
  • 10 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
  • 3 ranking records in 2024

2025

Highlights
2025
  • Best overall country rank: #54
  • Chemistry: #21 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 9 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
  • 4 ranking records in 2025

2026

Highlights
2026
  • Best overall country rank: #57
  • Business: #45 in country
  • Top source: QS
  • 5 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Business
  • 3 ranking records in 2026

Contact Information

110 8th St, Troy, NY 12180

+1-518-276-6000

Student Reviews & Ratings

Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary

Overall score

46.8/10
Top Rated

Based on 0 ratings