Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 23% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 98th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NY wage index 1.10). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $104,943 | $141,528 | +32% | #42 of 349 | #40 | $23,233 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $94,722 | $125,531 | +50% | #1 of 27 | #2 | $23,582 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $85,172 | $115,100 | +25% | #65 of 459 | #73 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $80,196 | $105,768 | +52% | #20 of 309 | #23 | $23,250 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $83,412 | $104,596 | +4% | #66 of 258 | #143 | $23,250 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $74,427 | $103,306 | +11% | #18 of 118 | #37 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,925 | $99,713 | +46% | #30 of 1176 | #39 | $25,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $78,263 | $98,679 | +1% | #61 of 158 | #99 | $24,985 |
| Industrial Engineering | $74,787 | $98,509 | +0% | #45 of 94 | #66 | $22,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $73,213 | $94,750 | -4% | #35 of 59 | #49 | $24,861 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $73,833 | $92,952 | +1% | #132 of 318 | #223 | $24,121 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $36,191 | $87,358 | +70% | #6 of 299 | #5 | $25,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $77,014 | $87,239 | -12% | #12 of 12 | #12 | $19,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $71,790 | $86,794 | +0% | #99 of 233 | #162 | $26,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | $83,958 | +51% | #10 of 207 | #10 | $26,500 |
| Materials Engineering | $66,927 | $82,947 | -9% | #32 of 34 | #34 | $23,250 |
| Physics | $60,348 | $81,840 | +7% | #43 of 107 | #49 | $20,270 |
| Architecture | $54,334 | $75,551 | +13% | #11 of 78 | #25 | $31,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $315,950
- Avg rent near campus: $1,513/mo — vs ~$1,051/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 12204 (4.9% cap, Menands)
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🏆 Where Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $60,360 | $60,360 |
| Room | $9,460 | |
| Board | $8,070 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $82,404 | $82,404 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
How much does it cost to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
What is the graduation rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology