Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at a Glance
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university in Troy, New York, United States. It is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world and in the Western Hemisphere. Stephen Van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton established RPI in 1824 for the "application of science to the common purposes of life".
1824
202 years old
$1.0B
$1.02 billion (2025)
8,142
6,203 undergrad · 1,366 grad
488
265 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Official admissions pageNovember 1 (Early Decision I)
$70
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Worth It?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers moderate value at $36,228/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $102,051, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 83% graduation rate means roughly 17% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #2 of 7 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | 69 | $22,453 | $89,070 |
| #2 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 59 | $36,228 | $102,051 |
| #3 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 54 | $43,071 | $103,470 |
| #4 | Stonehill College | 46 | $33,016 | $77,745 |
| #5 | Southern Methodist University | 40 | $40,892 | $78,354 |
| #6 | American University | 36 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The highest-earning program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is Computer Science at $91,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Design and Applied Arts at $33,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earns $91,900, while a Design and Applied Arts graduate earns $33,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $26,000 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Design and Applied Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $36,228/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $91,900 | $91,900 | $26,000 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $88,400 | $88,400 | $25,765 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $74,000 | $74,000 | $25,250 |
| Industrial Engineering | $72,200 | $72,200 | $25,255 |
| Mathematics | $70,500 | $70,500 | $23,250 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $69,000 | $69,000 | $26,574 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $66,700 | $66,700 | $24,500 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $66,500 | $66,500 | $27,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $66,000 | $66,000 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $66,000 | $66,000 | $27,000 |
| Physics | $65,300 | $65,300 | $27,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $63,900 | $63,900 | $27,000 |
| Materials Engineering | $63,300 | $63,300 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,700 | $57,700 | $25,116 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $57,400 | $57,400 | $23,750 |
| Architecture | $50,200 | $50,200 | $31,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $33,600 | $33,600 | $25,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Troy, NY
- Student Body
- 5,714 students
- Admission Rate
- 63%
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $36,228
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $102,051
- Median Student Debt
- $23,750