More selective than 64% of New York colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
57% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 13% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670 | 740 |
| SAT math | 705 | 770 |
| ACT composite | 30 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1375 | 1510 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 63% | 670–740 | 705–770 | 30–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 58% | 650–730 | 680–770 | 30–34 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute compared with other New York colleges?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has the 50th-lowest acceptance rate of 140 New York colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | New York School of Interior Design | 63% | 69% | $45,271 |
| 47 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | 63% | 66% | $18,952 |
| 48 | Farmingdale State College | 63% | 53% | $10,867 |
| 49 | Dominican University New York | 63% | 53% | $41,832 |
| 50 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 63% | 84% | $36,228 |
| 51 | The New School | 63% | 69% | $58,741 |
| 52 | Hobart William Smith Colleges | 64% | 77% | $31,563 |
| 53 | CUNY York College | 64% | 32% | $4,456 |
| 54 | CUNY Queens College | 64% | 53% | $4,195 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All New York colleges →
Who enrolls at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admissions questions
What is the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute acceptance rate?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 9,517 of 16,283 applicants were admitted.
Does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute require the SAT or ACT?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 57% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 13% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
The middle 50% of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute enrolled first-year students scored 1375–1510 on the SAT and 30–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
16% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,552 of 9,517).
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute getting harder to get into?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepted 63% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 58% for Fall 2023.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute overview