
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private institution in Terre Haute, Indiana, with roots in a school established to teach engineering. Terre Haute businessman Chauncey Rose founded Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1874; it opened to students in 1883.
The institute adopted the Rose-Hulman name in 1971, recognizing the Hulman family's support. It began admitting women in 1995. Those milestones help explain the school's present identity: a small, specialized institution that retains its engineering focus while offering programs in computing, mathematics, and the sciences.
Rose-Hulman organizes its academic work around engineering, science, mathematics, computing, and humanities and social sciences rather than a broad collection of professional schools. Its undergraduate programs include mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, biomedical, and computer engineering, as well as computer science, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
Students can pursue graduate study in selected technical fields. Engineering and computing students should compare individual majors, not just the institute as a whole: laboratory requirements, design projects, electives, and accreditation can differ by program. Humanities and social sciences coursework also forms part of the education, although Rose-Hulman is principally a STEM institution.
Rose-Hulman's campus is in Terre Haute in west-central Indiana. It is a distinct residential campus rather than a downtown campus, so access to shops, internships, or activities elsewhere in the city may require transportation.
Indianapolis International Airport is the nearest major airport identified in institutional information. Students planning travel should account for ground transportation between the airport and Terre Haute. First-year students may register or park a car on campus, but parking permission does not eliminate the need to check current permit rules and costs.
Rose-Hulman states an educational mission centered on undergraduate learning in engineering, mathematics, and science, with individual attention and support. That purpose is reflected in its specialized program mix and emphasis on technical work, rather than the range of majors typical of a comprehensive university.
The institute's stated aims are a description of what it seeks to provide, not proof that every student will have the same experience. Applicants interested in fields outside STEM should examine the actual degree list before assuming that a humanities or social sciences course offering also means a standalone major is available.
Name of the institution
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Upper-level higher education institution with graduate programsMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1874Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.