110 8th Street
Troy, NY 12180

Stephen Van Rensselaer founded The Rensselaer School in Troy, New York in 1824. According to a history written on the school, The Rensselaer School was the first school of science and civil engineering in continuing existence in an English-speaking country. The school's name has only morphed twice - first in 1833 to the Rensselaer Institute and then in 1861 to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to reflect its changing emphasis.

Today, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a technological university consisting of five schools: architecture, engineering, humanities and social sciences, management, and science. The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers more than 140 degrees from Bachelor's to doctoral. Students may choose a broad range of programs that include biomedical engineering, mechanical, aerospace and nuclear engineering, economics, computer science or earth and environmental science.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute educates over 7,200 students per year. The faculty roster include more than 450 staff members who are National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellows and members of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences. More than 380 members of the faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees in their Expertise.

Over 2,800 students live in residences on the college campus. Utilities, including local phone service, laundry and limited kitchen facilities are available in each dorm.


Quick Facts:

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has students enrolled in its programs from over 45 states and over 65 foreign countries.

The student/faculty ratio at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 11:1.

The incubator program at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was established in 1980, making it one of the oldest incubator programs in the country and the first to be wholly established sponsored and operated by a university.

The Alumni Hall of Fame includes many famous names in a variety of fields including geology, engineering, architects, inventors and atomic power pioneers.

In 2007, The Princeton Review ranked the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as #2 for it's "more to do on campus" list.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers students more than 150 organized clubs, sports and academic organizations, as well as organizing movie nights, parties, dances and other activities.

The Mueller Fitness Center is a 32,000 square foot facility dedicated to helping student maintain their physical fitness.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has 23 organized sports teams that include men's football, baseball and golf; women's field hockey and softball as well as men's and women's basketball, cross country, ice hockey, indoor track, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field. In addition, there are over 30 sports clubs and intramural offerings.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.