Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Troy, NY

Design and Applied Arts

at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $46,471/yr starting out — that's 55% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 8.6 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $33,139/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $141,211 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$79,934/yr

Starting Salary

$46,471

Finish Rate

83.2%

$79,934/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $33,139/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $46,795/yr)

4 Years Total

$319,736

Typical Debt

$23,750

Interest You'd Owe

+$8,655

What You'd Really Pay

$141,211

That's about $270/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$464,710

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$141,211

Pays for Itself In

8.6 yrs

Salary Boost

+55%

Ahead After 10 Years

$323,499

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost24.1/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed15.9/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost7.3/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate12.5/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.