Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

What are the graduation rates for students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

RPI's reported four-year graduation rate is 72%, while its six-year rate is 84%. These measures follow a defined cohort of first-time, full-time students seeking a bachelor's degree; they do not describe the completion rate of every transfer student, graduate student, or part-time student.

The difference between the two rates shows why the time frame matters: some students complete after the fourth year but within six years. RPI also reports first-year retention of 91%, meaning most students in the measured entering cohort returned for the following year. Graduation and retention figures are useful for comparison, but they do not explain an individual student's likelihood of finishing or the causes of a particular outcome.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

College Scorecard program data show different early-career earnings across RPI fields. The figures are program-level median earnings measured about one year after completion for the students represented in that federal dataset, not starting-salary offers for every graduate.

Reported examples include $83,880 for computer science, $72,826 for electrical, electronics, and communications engineering, and $65,319 for mechanical engineering. The reported figure for architecture is $52,282. Differences may reflect occupations, further study, geography, and which graduates appear in the underlying records - not just the value of a degree.

A one-year measure leaves out later earnings growth and may not capture all graduates. Students comparing programs should consider curriculum, employment options, graduate-school plans, borrowing, and the length of time required to complete the degree alongside earnings data.