Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Acceptance Rate
Troy, New York · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 16,283
- Admitted
- 9,517
- Yield
- 16.3%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's acceptance rate has risen from 37.5% in 2014–15 to 58.4% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 18,602 to 16,283 (-12%) over that period.
Its 58.4% rate makes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute more selective than about 77% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 119 tracked New York schools, it is more selective than about 70%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 16.3% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 18,602 | 6,976 | 37.5% | 1,331 |
| 2015–16 | 17,752 | 7,432 | 41.9% | 1,379 |
| 2016–17 | 18,524 | 8,215 | 44.3% | 1,691 |
| 2017–18 | 19,505 | 8,420 | 43.2% | 1,663 |
| 2018–19 | 20,402 | 8,770 | 43% | 1,778 |
| 2019–20 | 18,635 | 8,835 | 47.4% | 1,665 |
| 2020–21 | 16,661 | 9,540 | 57.3% | 1,464 |
| 2021–22 | 17,498 | 9,277 | 53% | 1,322 |
| 2022–23 | 16,863 | 10,878 | 64.5% | 2,002 |
| 2023–24 | 16,283 | 9,517 | 58.4% | 1,552 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 5,485 | 3,202 | 58.4% |
| Men | 10,790 | 6,315 | 58.5% |
| Another gender | 8 | 0 | 0% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 650–730 | 57% |
| SAT Math | 680–770 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–34 | 13% |
How Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's acceptance rate?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's acceptance rate is 58.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (9,517 admitted of 16,283 applicants).
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute test optional?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute received 16,283 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 9,517.
What SAT score do you need for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Admitted students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically scored 650–730 on SAT Reading/Writing and 680–770 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute getting harder to get into?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 37.5% in 2014–15 to 58.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.rpi.edu/.