Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York · Private Nonprofit · 63.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 93/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute scores 93 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. RPI is a private STEM-focused research university in Troy, New York, with 5,714 students. Sticker tuition is $64,081 and net price is $36,228 - expensive in absolute terms, but the financial outcomes are exceptional: $66,700 average 6-year earnings, a 4.2-year payback period, 83.6% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 95.4%. Median debt of $23,750 is moderate relative to sticker. The earnings premium of 0.463 reflects strong technology and engineering salary outcomes. Computer Science (250 grads, A, $104,943 yr1) and Computer Engineering Technologies (62 grads, A, $94,722 yr1) are the top earners. Electrical Engineering (69 grads, B+, $83,412 yr1), Mathematics (75 grads, B+, $80,196 yr1), Chemical Engineering (61 grads, B+, $78,263 yr1), and Mechanical Engineering (162 grads, B+, $73,833 yr1) cluster strongly. Even Business Administration (58 grads, C+, $47,925 yr1 rising to $99,713 yr4) shows a strong four-year trajectory. The 95.4% repayment rate is a definitive statement of graduate financial health.
The median graduate earns $102,051 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $64,081/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $64,081/yr |
| Average net price | $36,228/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $144,912 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $102,051 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $66,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $252 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,714 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $64,081/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $36,228/year, or roughly $144,912 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $24,078/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $42,541/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,750, which works out to about $252 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($66,700) and comes to 0.36, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $24,078 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,289 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,212 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,230 |
| $110,001+ | $42,541 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $24,078 per year. Against $66,700 average 6-year earnings and a 4.2-year payback, even the lowest-income bracket achieves payback well within a standard loan term. The 83.6% completion rate significantly reduces dropout risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,212 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $36,230. At $36,230, upper-middle-income families are approaching full cost dynamics. Against $66,700 average 6-year earnings, the payback math still works, but the financial case requires selecting a high-earning program. CS and engineering graduates at $75-105k year one can service $36k/year costs easily; architecture and non-STEM graduates face a tighter equation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $42,541 per year. Over four years, roughly $170,000. Against a 4.2-year payback and $102,051 ten-year median earnings, the full-pay case holds up. CS and engineering graduates at $95-105k year one effectively pay off four years of college within two years of graduation.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $141,528 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $92,952 | B+ |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,750 | B+ |
| Mathematics | $105,768 | B+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $104,596 | B+ |
| Biomedical Engineering | $103,306 | B+ |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $125,531 | A |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,679 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $99,713 | C+ |
| Architecture | $75,551 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (250 graduates) earns $104,943 year one and $141,528 at year four, with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.222, median debt $23,250). Year-one earnings of $105k are exceptional for any private university CS program nationally. The four-year trajectory to $142k reflects placement into technology firms and quantitative finance roles.
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Computer Engineering Technologies (62 graduates) earns $94,722 year one and $125,531 at year four, with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.249, median debt $23,582). Strong outcomes reflecting hardware-software integration roles in semiconductor, systems, and defense technology companies. Year-one earnings are $95k.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (162 graduates) earns $73,833 year one and $92,952 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.339, median debt $25,000). Solid outcomes reflecting New York and Northeast defense, aerospace, and manufacturing sector placement. Year-one earnings of $74k are above the national median for mechanical engineering bachelor's and the four-year trajectory is consistent with senior engineering roles.
Mathematics
Mathematics (75 graduates) earns $80,196 year one and $105,768 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.302, median debt $24,250). Year-one earnings of $80k for a pure mathematics program are very strong, reflecting the quantitative finance, actuarial, data science, and technology roles that RPI math graduates enter. The four-year trajectory to $106k is exceptional for a non-CS STEM program.
Architecture
Architecture (56 graduates) earns $54,334 year one and $75,551 at year four, with a C grade (debt-to-earnings 0.571, median debt $31,000). The debt of $31,000 is high and the C grade reflects the gap between architecture entry wages and the debt burden. RPI's architecture program offers a technically rigorous curriculum but the Scorecard outcomes reflect the broader architecture labor market rather than institutional quality.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 95.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 93.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 94.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 63.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 705-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 670-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-34 |
| Enrollment | 5,714 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,820 |
At 63.5%, RPI is moderately selective. SAT 705-770 Math and 670-740 Reading indicates strong quantitative preparation. ACT 30-34 composite. Admissions evaluates strong STEM academic performance, particularly in mathematics and sciences. Students with demonstrated research, engineering competition, or technical project experience have a stronger application.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (this school) | 93 | $36,228 | $102,051 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 90 | $43,071 | $103,470 |
| University of San Diego | 88 | $30,365 | $86,522 |
| University of San Francisco | 80 | $41,431 | $89,812 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
RPI admits 63.5% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 705-770 Math and 670-740 Reading; ACT 30-34. Pell grant rate of 19.9% indicates primarily non-low-income enrollment. RPI draws students specifically interested in STEM research, engineering, and technology. The Troy, New York location provides proximity to Albany's government and tech sector and is within driving distance of Boston and New York City. Students with a clear engineering, CS, or STEM focus are the natural fit. Students who want a broad liberal arts experience or who are undecided about technical careers will find RPI's curriculum narrowly focused.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $144,912 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $102,051 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.2 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $66,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Common Questions
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute pays off. It scores 93/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $36,228 a year after aid ($144,912 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $102,051 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.2 years to earn back.
How much does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $36,228 a year, or roughly $144,912 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $102,051 ten years after enrolling, roughly $60,251 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.2 years for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,750, against average earnings of $66,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.