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Troy, NY · Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering at RPI

RPI graduates about 162 mechanical engineering majors a year, 10% of its graduating class. That puts it 18th of 332 schools we score for mechanical engineering, a standout program at 85 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 78 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 90% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $93,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $19 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

85/100Standout#18 of 332 for mechanical engineering →
Graduates a year16210% of the class
Courses in the catalog78more than 90% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$93,0001.01× the same major nationally
Research in the field$19Ma 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 mechanical engineering happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Rensselaer Society of Engineers, 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 mechanical engineering ranking

  1. Stanford University 87
  2. University of Maryland, College Park 86
  3. Stevens Institute of Technology 86
  4. Northeastern University 85
  5. Case Western Reserve University 85
  6. University of Notre Dame 85
  7. University of Rochester 84
  8. Vanderbilt University 84

Other strong majors at RPI

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares RPI with every school we score in mechanical engineering. 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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