Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY
U.S. News 2026 National Universities rank: #64
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824 in Troy, New York, is the oldest technological research university in the English-speaking world. Its 265-acre hillside campus overlooks the Hudson River and the city of Troy, about six miles from Albany. RPI is built around engineering, computing, and applied science: nearly two-thirds of bachelor's degrees are awarded in engineering or computer and information sciences, and every undergraduate completes The Rensselaer Experience (TREX), a required semester-long internship, co-op, research, or study-abroad placement after the first year. Students can pursue a formal co-op alongside standard internships, and many work at employers like NASA, Google, and SpaceX. Fraternity and sorority life is present but not central, with roughly 18% of men and 11% of women joining. First-year and second-year students are required to live on campus, most in the 'Freshman Five' dorms clustered around the Commons dining hall. RPI fields 21 NCAA teams: men's and women's ice hockey compete in Division I under ECAC Hockey, while the rest compete in Division III in the Liberty League, giving hockey an outsized role in campus life. It suits students who want a hands-on, technically rigorous education and don't mind a demanding workload.
Key figures
- Acceptance Rate (Overall): 63.5%
- Average Net Price (Federal Aid Recipients): $36,228
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 83.6%
- Median Starting Salary: $75,120
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,714
- SAT Middle 50% (composite midpoint): 1456
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14