RPI Description

If you want a curriculum that challenges you academically while combining cutting-edge research and technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is worth a look.

RPI is one of the country’s oldest technological universities. It has comprehensive undergraduate and graduate-level educational programs that incorporate science and technology with multiple disciplines.

Some of the majors offered include:

  • Aeronautical Engineering
  • Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
  • Computer and Systems Engineering
  • Design, Innovation, and Society
  • Environmental Science
  • Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences
  • Sustainability Studies

It also has accelerated academic offerings, such as Business Administration, Management-Law or Physician-Scientist.

Research is the foundation of RPI. Its programs are renowned for advances in economic development, environmental protection, and human health.

The institute is focused on five research areas:

  • Biotechnology
  • Computation and Information Technology
  • Experimental Media and the Arts
  • Energy and the Environment
  • Nanotechnology

For admissions, the school considers standardized test scores and the level of difficulty of courses taken. RPI looks at other factors as well, such as the personal essay. There is an application fee to apply.

Merit and need-based sources of financial aid are available to those who need and qualify for them. Financial aid, in combination with flexible tuition payment plans, can help students pay for college.

Quick Facts about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Location

Northeast

Setting

Large Town Setting

Type

Private

Size

Large (5,000 to 10,000 Undergrad)

Mascot

Engineers

Nickname

RPI

Website

www.rpi.edu

On-Campus Housing Available

Yes

Selectivity

Highly Selective

In-State Tuition

$41,600

Out-of-State Tuition

$41,600

Retention Rate

91%

Enrollment

7,080

Year Established

1824

RPI Ratings & Reviews

Overall School Rating: 5 See all ratings

100% of students gave Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 5 stars overall.

5 star
  2 reviews
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3 star
 
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1 star
 

Alumnus - Grad Year 2001

Overall Rating:
5

Detailed Ratings

The institute attracts students from every state and 92 foreign countries. Among class of 2014, 83% were in the top 10% of their high school class. The average high school GPA of the class of 2013 was a 3.9 and the average SAT score was 1440 out of 1600. The acceptance rate dropped between 2005–11 and in 2011 was 36.1%. Rensselaer has been proclaimed to be 'the next' Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was named as a 'New Ivy' by Newsweek and Kaplan. It remains in the 'Top 50 Universities' by U.S. News & World Report. RPI has 42.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 16:1. RPI has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,431, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 284 acres.

Alumnus - Grad Year 2004

Overall Rating:
5

Detailed Ratings

Nerdy vibe, an outstanding education with a lot of cool professors, great outdoor/winter activities in upstate NY If I had to describe the "vibe" of this school in one word, it would be "nerdy". It's well-understood around campus and everyone kind of jokes about it. It's definitely a great place to be if you're a geek in any way and proud of it. Whether it's engineering, math, computer programming, games, comics, sci-fi electronic music arts, etc...this place has got it. If you hate most of these kinds of things...you probably won't be happy there. As you can imagine, it's also not the MOST social school on the planet...but as with any school, there's always something going on if you want to get out.

Read All RPI Reviews

RPI Students

Full-Time Undergrad Students
5,367
Freshman Class
1,154
Total Students (Undergrads & Graduate Students)
7,080

Undergraduate vs. Graduate

Undergraduate
76%
Graduate
24%

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Students

Full-Time
100%
Part-Time
0%

Students Coming From In-State vs. Out-of-State

In-State
32%
Out-of-State
68%

Gender of Students

Women
32%
Men
68%

Ethnic Diversity

African-American
3%
Asian
11%
Caucasian
75%
Latino
6%
Other
5%

Students State Origin

New York
32%
Massachusetts
14%
New Jersey
11%
Connecticut
8%
Pennsylvania
5%
Other
30%

International Students

International
11%
Domestic
89%

This web site and associated pages are not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). CampusExplorer.com has no official or unofficial affiliation with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

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