Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$40,661
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$21,259
$30k - $48k
$20,731
$48k - $75k
$28,821
$75k - $110k
$33,990
$110k+
$44,553
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$58,526
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$58,526
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$16,379
Books and Supplies
$1,250
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
79%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
17%
Average Aid Per Year
$33,155
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
17%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,539
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$31,461
Students receiving state aid
10%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$3,086
Students receiving federal aid
85%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,539
Average Grant & Scholarship By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$50,938
$30k - $48k
$53,078
$48k - $75k
$44,028
$75k - $110k
$42,227
$110k+
$30,813
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$44,811,820
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$92,541,555

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
46%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$10,027
Students receiving federal loans
45%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,074
Average Other Loans Per Year
$24,523
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$22,258
Loan Default Rate
1%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$239

What Students Are Saying

Great education. Although the costs are pretty high, RPI is very good when it comes to financial aid packages.
DS from Troy, NY
Rensselaer does come with a hefty price tag. However, Rensselaer is a well-recognized name in the business world. Many prestigious businesses attend the biannual career fairs with intentions of bringing in well-developed employees. The cost of Rensselaer will be paid for after a few years in the workforce.
You also get bang for your buck while attending Rensselaer. There are many resources on campus that you can take advantage of, including the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, the Biotechnology building, and a supercomputer. You can fine-tune your business skills or just have fun with these tools, making your bill completely worthwhile.
Maureen from Parish, NY
I know RPI is expensive. It is a hard blow to your pockets but the name of this university is widespread in the engineering, architecture, and business fields. A degree from RPI is a great investment in your future. While you're here you have the full university at your disposal. Every resource available to the university is available to you. The entire campus is your study room. The connections available through RPI are your connections to utilize. There is so much to do once you get here since you made it here. Plus RPI is great with financial aid. The employees at the financial aid office really do try to do the best they can to help you and academic success is compensated.
Diana from Lauderhill, FL
RPI is a relatively expensive school but the quality of education, amount of resources, and experiences here are totally worth it. Also, the name Rensselaer means a lot of future employers. RPI even hosts 2 career fairs every year and has extensive resume building workshops to ensure that you will get a job offer by the time you graduate.
Irene from Brooklyn, NY
Yes it can get a bit pricey but it's a school with a great reputation. If you're an engineer you are almost guaranteed a job after graduation. You learn a lot here, housing is nice, and food is okay, not great but better than high school cafeteria food.
Margaret from Tyngsboro, MA
It's expensive, but it sure does pay off in the end once you land that high-paying job with a well known company after graduation. The financial aid given to students is usually very good.
Eryka from Bogart, GA
For the buck? This school is EXPENSIVE. I have an almost maximum financial aid package and still end up paying $10,000 a year. But, for the name of the school on the diploma it is so worth it. There are good times if you let there be, college doesn't need to be all work (or all play). There are so many things to do and get involved in and you are getting a top notch education and you will be just WAITING for someone to ask where you go to college so you can off-handedly say oh, just a little place called RPI, it's in upstate New York, ever heard of it? Watch jaws drop and listen to people say wow, you must be so smart, congratulations!
Hannah
The education's top notch, the food and housing are pretty good, there's a friendly, hard-working maintenance staff and a lot of amenities, but the total cost of enrollment is still outrageous. Financial aid helps quite a bit, and the 'tute can be fairly generous with it, but there's still no getting around the fact that you're paying private school prices.
Dirksen