Is RPI test optional?

We haven't confirmed RPI's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is RPI's acceptance rate?

63% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 10,901 of 17,175 applicants were admitted. Applications held near 17,175, and RPI's admit rate went from 42% to 63%.

What ACT score do you need for RPI?

11% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 30–34, with a median of 33. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1390–1500 works out to about 31–34.

What GPA do you need for RPI?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.80 high school GPA, and 56% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at RPI?

58% of early decision applicants were admitted (139 of 240), against 63% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at RPI?

33 of the 1,236 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 2.7%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for RPI? (Middle 50%: 1390–1500)

First-year students at RPI who sent an SAT scored 1390–1500, with a median of 1450 (Common Data Set 2024–25). RPI admits 63% of applicants.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY

Where your score lands at RPI

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1390–1500, median 1450

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier RPI is for you and whether to send your score.

Add RPI to my list

RPI by the numbers

Admit rate: 63%
Middle 50% SAT: 1390–1500
Median SAT: 1450
About on the ACT: 31–34
Sent an SAT: 49%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

RPI admit rate over 10 years

Applications held near 17,175, and RPI's admit rate went from 42% to 63%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	17,175	10,901	63%
2023	16,283	9,517	58%
2022	16,863	10,878	65%
2021	17,498	9,277	53%
2020	16,661	9,540	57%
2019	18,635	8,835	47%
2018	20,402	8,770	43%
2017	19,505	8,420	43%
2016	18,524	8,215	44%
2015	17,752	7,432	42%

In fall 2024, 1,314 of the 10,901 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at RPI

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1340Far reachHold
1340–1380ReachHold
1390–1440TargetHold
1450–1490TargetSend
1500 and upLikelySend

12001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

RPI SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	705	740	770
SAT Reading and Writing	670	710	740
SAT total	1390	1450	1500
ACT composite	30	33	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 49% sent an SAT and 11% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Average high school GPA: 3.80; 92% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 56%; of new students who reported a rank

RPI early decision and waitlist

Early decision

139 of 240 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision58%
All applicants63%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

1,958 applicants were offered a spot, 1,236 took it, and 33 were admitted from it.

2.7%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

RPI cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $36,228; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 84%
Median earnings: $102,051; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 6,285

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like RPI

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

RPI Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
RPI website
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1390–1500, and the median was 1450. At 1450 or higher you're above half of them. RPI admits 63% of applicants.

Raise your score before you apply

The 15-minute starting check finds the question types costing you points, then plans each day up to your test date.

Start SAT free Check your whole list

Starting check

SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$