Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

110 8th St, Troy, NY 12182

http://www.rpi.edu/

School Description

Provided by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

When you come to study at Rensselaer, you will benefit from a proud legacy of bold exploration. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was established in 1824 as the first technological university in the English-speaking world. The Institute was organized around a concept considered quite radical for the time: that students should actively engage with their studies by performing experiments and exploring other participatory forms of learning, rather than sitting passively in lectures.

Rensselaer is a diverse community of dreamers and doers who share several characteristics. They are drawn to the sciences and technology, and to disciplines ranging from architecture and business to literature. They love to tackle complex problems, and they have a sincere desire to improve the world. Yet the people of Rensselaer are true individuals: everyone who comes here seeks a pathway to greatness that is uniquely his or her own.

Over time, as Rensselaer has evolved into a fully realized university of 5,100 undergraduates, this groundbreaking approach to education has generated wave after wave of innovation and discovery.

Our mission — “to apply science to the common purposes of life” — has never looked more auspicious. Enrollments are up, our faculty represents the best and the brightest in a wide range of disciplines, enthusiasm is high.

One Rensselaer graduate masterminded the first moon landing; another, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Our alumni invented e-mail and helped develop sunscreen. They have established and led successful enterprises, from Texas Instruments (inventors of the first silicon transistor) to Vicarious Visions (creators of Guitar Hero III).

As a Rensselaer student, you will walk in the footsteps of these pioneers — and become one. You will enjoy access to world-class research facilities, and work along side exceptionally talented researchers on challenges that range from eradicating cholera to combating global warming. Whether you study mechanical engineering or music, bioinformatics or business, Rensselaer is a paradise for people who yearn to fulfill their dreams, and improve the world in the process.

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a private research university located in Troy, New York, United States. RPI was founded in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer for the "application of science to the common purposes of life", and is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world. The institute is known for its success in the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace.

RPI's mission has slowly evolved over the years while retaining its focus on the scientific and technological roots upon which the school was founded. Adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1995, RPI's current mission is to "educate the leaders of tomorrow for technologically based careers. We celebrate discovery, and the responsible application of technology, to create knowledge and global prosperity."

History

1824-1900

Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's first senior professor and appointed the first board of trustees. On December 29 of that year, the president and the board met and established the methods of instruction, which were rather different from methods employed at other colleges at the time. Students performed experiments, explained their rationale, and gave their own lectures rather than listening to lectures and watching demonstrations.

The school opened on Monday, January 3, 1825 at the Old Bank Place, a building at the north end of Troy. The opening was announced by a notice, signed by the president, and printed in the Troy Sentinel on December 28. The school attracted students from New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The fact that the school attracted students from afar is attributed to the reputation of Eaton. Fourteen months of successful trial led to the incorporation of the school on March 21, 1826 by the State of New York. In its early years, the Rensselaer School resembled a graduate school more than it did a college. It drew graduates of older institutions such as Amherst, Bowdoin, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Union, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale. Indeed, there was a considerable stream from Yale, where there were several teachers interested in the sciences.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Northeast
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Large (5,000 to 10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Engineers
Nickname:
RPI

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
5,190
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 31,857
Students Receiving Aid:
94%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 70
Selectivity:
Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

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    • Natural Resources and Conservation See more schools with programs in Natural Resources and Conservation
      • Environmental Science
        A program that focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of the physical environment and the solution of environmental problems, including subjects such as abating or controlling environmental pollution and degradation; the interaction between human society and the natural environment; and natural resources management. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, climatology, statistics, and mathematical modeling.
        See more schools with programs in Environmental Science
  • Arts & Humanities

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    • Architecture See more schools with programs in Architecture
      • Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
        These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.
        See more schools with programs in Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
      • Architecture and Related Services
        These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.
        See more schools with programs in Architecture and Related Services
    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • Other Music
        See more schools with programs in Other Music
    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
        See more schools with programs in General Philosophy
  • Business

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    • General Business See more schools with programs in General Business
      • Business Administration and Management
        Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
        See more schools with programs in Business Administration and Management
  • Communication & Media

    See more schools with programs in Communication & Media
    • Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
      A program that focuses on the scientific, humanistic, and critical study of human communication in a variety of formats, media, and contexts. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of interpersonal, group, organizational, professional, and intercultural communication; speaking and listening; verbal and nonverbal interaction; rhetorical theory and criticism; performance studies; argumentation and persuasion; technologically mediated communication; popular culture; and various contextual applications.
      See more schools with programs in Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
    • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
      A program that focuses on the development, use, and regulation of new electronic communication technologies using computer applications and that prepares individuals to function as developers and managers of digital communications media. Includes instruction in the principles of computers and telecommunications technologies and processes; design and development of digital communications; marketing and distribution; digital communications regulation, law, and policy; the study of human interaction with, and use of, digital media; and emerging trends and issues.
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  • Engineering

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    • Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      Individuals in this program apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and operational evaluation of aircraft, space vehicles, and their systems. Students of Aerospace Engineering also learn about applied research on flight characteristics and the development of systems and procedures for the launching, guidance, and control of air and space vehicles.
      See more schools with programs in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
    • Biomedical/Medical Engineering
      Learn to apply the elegance of mathematical and scientific principles to the design and development of biological and health systems. Biomedical Engineers develop biological systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems.
      See more schools with programs in Biomedical/Medical Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
      Chemical Engineering applies the elegance of mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics.
      See more schools with programs in Chemical Engineering
    • Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical, electronic and related communications systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
      See more schools with programs in Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
    • Engineering Physics
      A program with a general focus on the general application of mathematical and scientific principles of physics to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems. Includes instruction in high- and low-temperature phenomena, computational physics, superconductivity, applied thermodynamics, molecular and particle physics applications, and space science research.
      See more schools with programs in Engineering Physics
    • Engineering Science
      A program with a general focuses on the general application of various combinations of mathematical and scientific principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, including applied research in human behavior, statistics, biology, chemistry, the earth and planetary sciences, atmospherics and meteorology, and computer applications.
      See more schools with programs in Engineering Science
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
      See more schools with programs in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    • General Civil Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems; and environmental safety measures.
      See more schools with programs in General Civil Engineering
    • Industrial Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. Includes instruction in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology.
      See more schools with programs in Industrial Engineering
    • Manufacturing Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing systems. Includes instruction in materials science and engineering, manufacturing processes, process engineering, assembly and product engineering, manufacturing systems design, and manufacturing competitiveness.
      See more schools with programs in Manufacturing Engineering
    • Materials Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings; the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites; analysis of materials requirements and specifications; and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors.
      See more schools with programs in Materials Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
      See more schools with programs in Mechanical Engineering
    • Nuclear Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling and manipulating nuclear energy, including nuclear power plant design, fission reactor design, fusion reactor design, reactor control and safety systems design, power transfer systems, containment vessels and structures design; and the analysis of related engineering problems such as fission and fusion processes, human and environmental factors, construction, and operational considerations.
      See more schools with programs in Nuclear Engineering
  • Health & Medical Services

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    • Health/Medical Preparatory Programs See more schools with programs in Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
      • Pre-Dentistry Studies
        A program that prepares individuals for admission to a first-professional program in dentistry.
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      • Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
        A program that prepares individuals for admission to a first-professional program in medicine, osteopathic medicine, or podiatric medicine.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Science, Technology and Society
      A program that focuses on the contemporary social and public policy ramifications of science and technology, the interrelationship of science and engineering with the public policy process, and the social and ethical dimensions of scientific and technological enterprises.
      See more schools with programs in Science, Technology and Society
  • Legal Professions

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    • Pre-Law Studies
      A program that prepares individuals for the professional study of law at the post-baccalaureate level.
      See more schools with programs in Pre-Law Studies
  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology
        Students of these integrated, BS, MS, and PhD programs study the intricacies and complexities of biological systems at the submolecular, molecular, and supramolecular levels. Students also learn about the influence of the submolecular world on biological activity at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organismic levels. Coursework in this program includes instruction in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, molecular biology, and research applications and methods appropriate to specific topics.
        See more schools with programs in Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology
      • Bioinformatics
        This program focuses on the forefront of computer engineering as it seeks to apply computer-based technologies to biological, biomedical, and biotechnology research. Students of Bioinformatics must study algorithms, network architecture, principles of software design, human interface design, usability studies, search strategies, database management and data mining, digital image processing, computer graphics and animation, CAD, computer programming, and applications to experimental design and analysis and to specific quantitative, modeling, and analytical studies in the various biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Bioinformatics
      • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics

    See more schools with programs in Mathematics and Statistics
    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
      See more schools with programs in General Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Natural Sciences
    • Hydrology and Water Resources Science
      A program that focuses on the scientific of study of the occurrence, circulation, distribution, chemical and physical properties, and environmental interaction of surface and subsurface waters, including groundwater. Includes instruction in geophysics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, chemical physics, geomorphology, mathematical modeling, hydrologic analysis, continental water processes, global water balance, and environmental science.
      See more schools with programs in Hydrology and Water Resources Science
    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
        See more schools with programs in Geology/Earth Science
    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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      • Other Physical Sciences
        See more schools with programs in Other Physical Sciences
  • Social Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Social Sciences
    • General Social Sciences
      A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences.
      See more schools with programs in General Social Sciences
    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
        See more schools with programs in General Economics
    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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  • Technology

    See more schools with programs in Technology
    • Software Development See more schools with programs in Software Development
      • Computer and Information Sciences
        A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.
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      • Information Technology
        A program that focuses on the design of technological information systems, including computing systems, as solutions to business and research data and communications support needs. Includes instruction in the principles of computer hardware and software components, algorithms, databases, telecommunications, user tactics, application testing, and human interface design.
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Master's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • Architecture See more schools with programs in Architecture
      • Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
        These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.
        See more schools with programs in Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
      • Architecture and Related Services
        These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.
        See more schools with programs in Architecture and Related Services
    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • Other Music
        See more schools with programs in Other Music
    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
        See more schools with programs in General Philosophy
  • Business

    See more schools with programs in Business
    • General Business See more schools with programs in General Business
      • Business Administration and Management
        Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
        See more schools with programs in Business Administration and Management
    • Management See more schools with programs in Management
      • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
        This major includes program in business, management, marketing and related support services. Check with the school to find out the specifics of a particular program.
        See more schools with programs in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
  • Communication & Media

    See more schools with programs in Communication & Media
    • Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
      A program that focuses on the scientific, humanistic, and critical study of human communication in a variety of formats, media, and contexts. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of interpersonal, group, organizational, professional, and intercultural communication; speaking and listening; verbal and nonverbal interaction; rhetorical theory and criticism; performance studies; argumentation and persuasion; technologically mediated communication; popular culture; and various contextual applications.
      See more schools with programs in Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  • Engineering

    See more schools with programs in Engineering
    • Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      Individuals in this program apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and operational evaluation of aircraft, space vehicles, and their systems. Students of Aerospace Engineering also learn about applied research on flight characteristics and the development of systems and procedures for the launching, guidance, and control of air and space vehicles.
      See more schools with programs in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
    • Biomedical/Medical Engineering
      Learn to apply the elegance of mathematical and scientific principles to the design and development of biological and health systems. Biomedical Engineers develop biological systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems.
      See more schools with programs in Biomedical/Medical Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
      Chemical Engineering applies the elegance of mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics.
      See more schools with programs in Chemical Engineering
    • Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical, electronic and related communications systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
      See more schools with programs in Electrical, Electronics and Communi­cations Engineering
    • Engineering Physics
      A program with a general focus on the general application of mathematical and scientific principles of physics to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems. Includes instruction in high- and low-temperature phenomena, computational physics, superconductivity, applied thermodynamics, molecular and particle physics applications, and space science research.
      See more schools with programs in Engineering Physics
    • Engineering Science
      A program with a general focuses on the general application of various combinations of mathematical and scientific principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, including applied research in human behavior, statistics, biology, chemistry, the earth and planetary sciences, atmospherics and meteorology, and computer applications.
      See more schools with programs in Engineering Science
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
      See more schools with programs in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    • General Civil Engineering
      A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems; and environmental safety measures.
      See more schools with programs in General Civil Engineering
    • Industrial Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. Includes instruction in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology.
      See more schools with programs in Industrial Engineering
    • Manufacturing Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing systems. Includes instruction in materials science and engineering, manufacturing processes, process engineering, assembly and product engineering, manufacturing systems design, and manufacturing competitiveness.
      See more schools with programs in Manufacturing Engineering
    • Materials Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings; the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites; analysis of materials requirements and specifications; and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors.
      See more schools with programs in Materials Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
      See more schools with programs in Mechanical Engineering
    • Nuclear Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling and manipulating nuclear energy, including nuclear power plant design, fission reactor design, fusion reactor design, reactor control and safety systems design, power transfer systems, containment vessels and structures design; and the analysis of related engineering problems such as fission and fusion processes, human and environmental factors, construction, and operational considerations.
      See more schools with programs in Nuclear Engineering
    • Operations Research
      A program that focuses on the development and application of complex mathematical or simulation models to solve problems involving operational systems, where the system concerned is subject to human intervention. Includes instruction in advanced multivariate analysis, application of judgment and statistical tests, optimization theory and techniques, resource allocation theory, mathematical modeling, control theory, statistical analysis, and applications to specific research problems.
      See more schools with programs in Operations Research
    • Transportation and Highway Engineering
      A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of total systems for the physical movement of people, materials and information, including general network design and planning, facilities planning, site evaluation, transportation management systems, needs projections and analysis, and analysis of costs.
      See more schools with programs in Transportation and Highway Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Cognitive Science
      A program that focuses on the study of the mind and the nature of intelligence from the interdisciplinary perspectives of computer science, philosophy, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience, and other disciplines. Includes instruction in mathematics and logic, cognitive process modeling, dynamic systems, learning theories, brain and cognition, neural networking, programming, and applications to topics such as language acquisition, computer systems, and perception and behavior.
      See more schools with programs in Cognitive Science
    • General Historic Preservation and Conservation
      A program that focuses on the architectural design principles and building techniques used in historic structures and environments, and the process of saving and restoring old buildings and districts for contemporary use and enjoyment. Includes instruction in architectural history; building conservation techniques; real estate, land-use and tax laws and codes; economics and public policy; and public relations.
      See more schools with programs in General Historic Preservation and Conservation
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Natural Sciences
      A program with a combined or undifferentiated focus on one or more of the physical and biological sciences.
      See more schools with programs in Natural Sciences
    • Science, Technology and Society
      A program that focuses on the contemporary social and public policy ramifications of science and technology, the interrelationship of science and engineering with the public policy process, and the social and ethical dimensions of scientific and technological enterprises.
      See more schools with programs in Science, Technology and Society
  • Life Science

    See more schools with programs in Life Science
    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology
        Students of these integrated, BS, MS, and PhD programs study the intricacies and complexities of biological systems at the submolecular, molecular, and supramolecular levels. Students also learn about the influence of the submolecular world on biological activity at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organismic levels. Coursework in this program includes instruction in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, molecular biology, and research applications and methods appropriate to specific topics.
        See more schools with programs in Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics

    See more schools with programs in Mathematics and Statistics
    • General Applied Mathematics
      A program that focuses on the application of mathematics and statistics to the solution of functional problems in fields such as engineering and the applied sciences. Includes instruction in natural phenomena modeling continuum mechanics, reaction-diffusion, wave propagation, dynamic systems, numerical analysis, controlled theory, asymptotic methods, variation, optimization theory, inverse problems, and applications to specific scientific and industrial topics.
      See more schools with programs in General Applied Mathematics
    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
      See more schools with programs in General Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Natural Sciences
    • Hydrology and Water Resources Science
      A program that focuses on the scientific of study of the occurrence, circulation, distribution, chemical and physical properties, and environmental interaction of surface and subsurface waters, including groundwater. Includes instruction in geophysics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, chemical physics, geomorphology, mathematical modeling, hydrologic analysis, continental water processes, global water balance, and environmental science.
      See more schools with programs in Hydrology and Water Resources Science
    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
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      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • General Social Sciences
      A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences.
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      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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      • Computer and Information Sciences
        A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.
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      • Information Technology
        A program that focuses on the design of technological information systems, including computing systems, as solutions to business and research data and communications support needs. Includes instruction in the principles of computer hardware and software components, algorithms, databases, telecommunications, user tactics, application testing, and human interface design.
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Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Men 77%
Women 23%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 72%
Asian 11%
Other 8%
Hispanic 5%
African-American 4%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 58%
In-State 42%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
New York 42%
Massachusetts 11%
New Jersey 9%
Connecticut 7%
Pennsylvania 3%
Percent of Students International: 13%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 45%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Eastern College Athletic Conference)
Basketball (Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association)
Baseball (Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association)
Track (Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 31,857    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 31,000    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 857    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 6,132 23%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 1,854 41%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 16,439 86%  
Student Loans:
$ 5,013 61%  
Any Aid:
  94%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 78% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 85%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 580, Math: 640
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 690, Math: 730

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 70.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo

Question: Can someone tell me about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

I am a junior in high school so of course colleges are sending me lots of feel letters. I recently got one from a place called Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I've never heard of it before but due to its distance from home it sparked my interest! :) I was wondering if its is a good college, easy to apply to or if its way to small? Any help is appreciated!
11 months ago

Best Answer

I have also gotten a few letters and emails about RPI. I have looked at their website and taken a virtual tour of it. I honestly can't remember its size, but I do know that it was an extremely high-tech college. It is also very expensive too. Of course, they need the money to pay for all the equiptment. Here's its website: http://www.rpi.edu/ It's definately a math and science oriented school.

Question: how is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
15 months ago

Best Answer

That's actually pretty close to where I grew up. Not many people I knew chose to go there, but from what I heard it is a decent school. It never seemed to get as much publicity or popularity as places like SUNY though.

Question: How hard is it to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Please include minimum GPA, ACT or SAT scores, and any other requirements that are essential for admission. I heard that you HAD to have taken both physics and calculus in high school to get noticed. Is this true? Also, what about AP classes? Will you get completely ignored if you don't have any?
17 months ago

Best Answer

Check out: Get a 3.25 GPA and 2000 SAT's and you should be fine. No you don't need to take both physics and calc - but it would be a good idea to do calc. AP Calc BC always looks good at insitutes of technology. Thanks Bill

Question: What are my chances of getting into the following colleges?

I'm a rising senior who is petrified of the dreaded "rejection letter." That being said, what do you think are my chances of getting into the following schools based on the information below? And, would it be a big help to raise my ACT from 29 to 30? Schools: -Washington University in St. Louis (ED) -Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (received Rensselaer Medalist Award, $15,000/year scholarship to this school only) -College of William and Mary -University of Maryland College Park (in-state applicant) Scholastic Record: ACT: 29 SAT II: 660 Chemistry, 620 Math 2 GPA: 3.81 (unweighted) 5.05 Rank: Top 5% ..have adequate EC's and leadership So, what do you think? Is it worth studying some more for the ACT to bump it up to a 30.. .just because the "3" looks better than the "2"? Thanks for any feedback
31 months ago

Best Answer

If you're getting the scholarship to RPI, take it. I don't think those numbers will get you into Washington U., but would be good enough for Univ. of Maryland.

Question: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

is this a good school, they have been contacting me via e-mail.......just wonting people's opinions on this school.....
36 months ago

Best Answer

If you're looking for an engineering degree, it is right up there with MIT. If you're looking for a social life, great for women, not so good for men.

Photos

  • West Hall
    West Hall [source]
  • RPI's "Quad" dormitory on the central campus
    RPI's "Quad" dormitory on the central campus [source]
  • Student Union
    Student Union [source]
  • The RPI Playhouse
    The RPI Playhouse [source]
  • Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies
    Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies [source]
  • Russell Sage Laboratory
    Russell Sage Laboratory [source]
  • The Voorhees Computing Center
    The Voorhees Computing Center [source]
  • [source]
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12182
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