Troy, NY · 5.7k students
Trajecta score
-1.8 since '20Ranked #117 of 2,375
5-year trend
66.9 · #103
2020
67.7 · #188
2021
65.0 · #280
2022
65.6 · #268
2023
65.1 · #299
2024
Academic Profile
57/ 100
Career Outcomes
92/ 100
Student Success
74/ 100
Affordability
42/ 100
Academic Investment
90/ 100
Access & Equity
18/ 100
Academic Profile
57
Career Outcomes
92
Student Success
74
Affordability
42
Academic Investment
90
Access & Equity
18
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$82k / $36k
SAT Avg
1,456
Retention
91%
Grad Rate
83%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$64,081
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$64,081
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
20%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
51%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$23,750
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.80
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 92% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Very Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) Program essay
RequiredNo stated limitState your reasons for aspiring to a career in medicine.
Architecture program essay
RequiredNo stated limitState your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession.
Electronic Arts program essay
RequiredNo stated limitDiscuss your interests in the field of electronic arts, and state how this is reflected in your portfolio, if one has been submitted.
Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences program essay
RequiredNo stated limitState your reasons for choosing the field of games and simulation arts and sciences, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.
Music program essay
RequiredNo stated limitDescribe your interest in the music major and your goals. Please include completed course work in music, private music instruction, musical performance and production experience, or completed independent projects.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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