RPI's tuition & fees has increased from $49,341 (2015) to $64,078 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 29.87% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $50,439 (year 2015) to $64,054 (year 2025).
RPI's tuition increase rate is higher than the New York's average increase rate of 13.54%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 28.89% from 2015 ($66,172).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, RPI's COA is $85,288, which is increased by 3.50% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to RPI's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 29.87% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $62,500. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,350, and it has increased 11.57% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,210 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,264 | 4.46% |
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| 2017-18 | $1,286 | 1.74% |
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| 2018-19 | $1,250 | -2.80% |
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| 2019-20 | $1,250 | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,250 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,250 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,260 | 0.80% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,310 | 3.97% |
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| 2024-25 | $1,350 | 3.05% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 25.42% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 1,041.38% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $15,621 | - | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $16,183 | - | 3.60% |
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| 2017-18 | $16,541 | - | 2.21% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $16,868 | - | 1.98% |
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| 2019-20 | $17,188 | - | 1.90% |
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| 2020-21 | $17,562 | - | 2.18% |
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| 2021-22 | $17,987 | - | 2.42% |
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| 2022-23 | $18,600 | - | 3.41% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $19,210 | $19,210 | 3.28% |
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| 2024-25 | $19,860 | $19,860 | 3.38% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $64,078 | $61,884 | 3.55% |
|---|
|
| New York University | $62,796 | $60,438 | 3.90% |
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|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $70,517 | $68,171 | 3.44% |
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|
| Cornell University | $69,314 | $66,014 | 5.00% |
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|
| Syracuse University | $65,528 | $63,061 | 3.91% |
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| St. John's University-New York | $53,529 | $49,911 | 7.25% |
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