Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university with an acceptance rate of 43%. Located in Troy, New York, RPI has a 13-to-1 student/faculty ratio and more of an undergraduate focus than many top engineering schools. RPI also boasts of an 86% six-year graduation rate. In athletics, RPI has a competitive Division I hockey team. Other popular sports include swimming, basketball, football, soccer, and track and field. 

Considering applying to RPI? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, RPI had an acceptance rate of 43%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 43 students were admitted, making RPI's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

RPI requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 72% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of RPI's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to RPI scored between 640 and 720, while 25% scored below 640 and 25% scored above 720. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 690 and 780, while 25% scored below 690 and 25% scored above 780. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1500 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at RPI.

Requirements

RPI does not require the SAT writing section for most applicants. Note that RPI participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. At RPI, SAT Subject tests and the SAT (or ACT) writing section are required for applicants to the accelerated programs in law and medicine.

ACT Scores and Requirements

RPI requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 28% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of RPI's admitted students fall within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to RPI received a composite ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 29.

Requirements

Note that RPI does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. RPI does not require the ACT writing section for most applicants. Regardless of whether you submit the ACT or SAT, SAT Subject tests and the ACT (or SAT) writing section are required for applicants to the accelerated programs in law and medicine.

GPA

In 2018, the average high school GPA of RPI's incoming freshmen class was 3.91, and 69% of students had GPAs of 3.75 or higher. These results suggest that most successful applicants to RPI have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which accepts well under half of applicants, has selective admissions. However, RPI uses a holistic admissions process which is based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and a glowing letter of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Note that applicants to the Accelerated Law, Accelerated Medical, Architecture, Electronic Arts, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences, and Music programs have additional essay and portfolio requirements. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside RPI's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of admitted students had high school GPAs of "A-" or higher, combined SAT scores of 1250 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Many applicants had impressive 4.0 GPAs, and, at RPI, strong math scores are particularly important.

If You Like RPI, You May Also Like These Schools

• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Boston University
• Cornell University
• Syracuse University
• Binghamton University
• University of Rochester
• Tufts University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Carnegie Mellon University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Admissions Office.