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Troy, NY · Computer science

Computer science at RPI

RPI graduates about 285 computer science majors a year, 18% of its graduating class. That puts it 36th of 691 schools we score for computer science, a standout program at 89 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 72 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 85% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $138,000 four years out, 1.31× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $6 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

89/100Standout#36 of 691 for computer science →
Graduates a year28518% of the class
Courses in the catalog72more than 85% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$138,0001.31× the same major nationally
Research in the field$6Ma year, NSF
Admit rate63%whole school
SAT middle 50%1360–1520whole school

Around RPI

Low Center for Industrial Innovation on the campus of en:Rensselaer Polytechnic
LowCenterRPIPhoto: UpstateNYer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
E. Fred Schubert at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) in Troy NY during the
2023-May--IMG 8177--EFS--SQ-04Photo: Judy246 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Russell Sage Dining Hall from a distance at night
Russell Sage Dining Hall Far Away at NightPhoto: RPI2026F1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
RPI Walk Over Bridge Far Away at Night
RPI Walk Over Bridge Far Away at NightPhoto: RPI2026F1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where computer science happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Rensselaer Society of Engineers, Voorhees Computing Center, Jonsson-Rowland Science Center, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, J Erik Jonsson Engineering Center, Low Center For Industrial Innovation.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 42 · Dorm 17 · Athletics 5 · Dining 4 · Chapel 1 · Library 1.

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Nearby in the computer science ranking

  1. Rutgers University–New Brunswick 89
  2. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 89
  3. The University of Texas–Austin 89
  4. University of Virginia 89
  5. Rhode Island School of Design 89
  6. University of Wisconsin–Madison 88
  7. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 88
  8. University of California San Diego 88

Other strong majors at RPI

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares RPI with every school we score in computer science. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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