Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

In 2022, RPI's tuition was $60,360 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 3%–from $58,600 the prior year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams seem daunting, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college feel more doable until after graduation.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute meets 73% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute full-time are awarded $50,655 a year in financial aid, on average.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $41,523 in student loans for each student with debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of New York as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. These institutions offer a lower cost of attendance for those who qualify as New York residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other New York colleges

Tuition for International Students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Room, Board, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Room and Board Costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Housing and campus dining at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $17,530 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities.

Board costs vary based on on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city might be costly, but cities may offer more buses, trains and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Rensselaer Polytechnic Instituteis located in a suburb in New York, near Albany.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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The Full Cost of Attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

How Much Does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Cost?

What will the cost of attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$60,360
Room and Board	$17,530
Other expenses	$1,680

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$81,094
Off-Campus	$63,564

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s tuition and fees change based on: •Campus location for full-time students

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Financial Aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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The majority of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 3,331 of the 5,895 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute meets 73% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $50,655 a year. Around 53% of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $41,523 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$22,066
Private Loans	$62,358

Most Common Loans for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Students
Federal Loans	52%
Private loans	17%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded 3,327 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $158.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $58.73 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was $50,655 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$30,439
Off-Campus	$12,909

What will attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's net cost calculator on their website.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute does not have guaranteed tuition.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does RPI Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's endowment was $1.07 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute spends about $20,149 a year.

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