,·Private Research University·Est. 1824
“The oldest technological research university in the English-speaking world, where engineers and scientists go to change the world.”
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is a global technological research university with a mission to apply science and technology for the betterment of humanity. Located in Troy, New York — a historic city on the Hudson River — RPI combines rigorous technical education with a strong entrepreneurial culture and access to the thriving Albany–Troy–Schenectady tech corridor. RPI is renowned for its programs in engineering, computer science, architecture, business, and the sciences. The university's Rensselaer Plan emphasizes research, technology, and entrepreneurship, with students regularly participating in groundbreaking research from their first year. The Rensselaer Technology Park and close ties to IBM, General Electric, and other major employers make it a powerful launching pad for technical careers. Campus life at RPI is vibrant, with over 200 student clubs, a strong Greek life presence, and a dedicated hockey tradition — the RPI Engineers compete in Division I men's hockey. The nearby Capital Region offers cultural resources, internship opportunities, and outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
QS World University Rankings
QS 2026
Computer Science
US News 2026
Engineering
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding — decisions mid-December
Early Decision II
Binding — decisions mid-February
Regular Decision
Decisions March/April
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$62,688
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
One of the oldest and most respected engineering schools in the US, offering degrees across all major engineering disciplines with strong research output and industry partnerships.
Offers rigorous programs in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science, with a strong emphasis on undergraduate research.
A business school uniquely focused on the intersection of management, technology, and entrepreneurship.
One of the oldest architecture schools in the US, integrating design, engineering, and technology in a distinctive curriculum.
4 years
RPI's most popular major and one of the oldest CS departments in the U.S. (founded 1979). STEM-designated; rigorous systems-and-theory grounding plus strong AI, HCI, robotics, and games tracks. Direct pipeline into the IBM Quantum, NY Tech Valley AI/semiconductor industry, and Big Tech (Google, Microsoft, Amazon). Co-op and CPT-eligible internships are widely used.
4 years
Housed in the Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering department; one of the strongest aero programs in the Northeast with research labs in propulsion, structures, autonomous systems, and computational fluid dynamics. Graduates feed into Boeing, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, NASA, and Blue Origin.
5 years
RPI's School of Architecture is one of the oldest accredited architecture schools in North America (founded 1929). The 5-year B.Arch is NAAB-accredited and fast-tracks graduates into licensure. Strong studio culture, computational design integration, and a Rome semester.
4 years
An interdisciplinary degree combining computer science, art, design, narrative, and music — among the longest-running games degrees in the U.S. Strong industry placement at studios such as Bungie, Riot, Ubisoft, and Epic. Capstone games regularly ship publicly.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $85,291
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
