What are RPI's demographics?

I'm really interested in learning more about the student body at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). What is the demographic breakdown at the school, and is there a diverse mix of students?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has a diverse mix of students, but it's important to remember that it is an engineering-focused institution, which influences the demographics to some extent.

According to recent data, the undergraduate student body of around 6,600 students at RPI is composed of roughly 27% female and 73% male. This unfortunate gender imbalance is fairly common among engineering-focused colleges, but it doesn't represent the entire picture of diversity.

In terms of race/ethnicity, the breakdown is approximately:

- 54% White

- 21% Asian

- 10% Hispanic/Latino

- 5% Black or African American

- 1% Native American (Alaskan Native)

- 2% Native Hawaiian (Pacific Islander)

- 7% Students from two or more races

Additionally, RPI has a considerable international student population, which represents around 17% of the undergraduate student body. Students come from over 60 countries, bringing a global perspective to the campus.

When it comes to geographical diversity, RPI attracts students from all over the United States, with the majority coming from the Northeast region, particularly New York state—not a surprise, given that RPI is located in New York. However, there is representation from other regions, such as the South, Midwest, and West Coast.

In summary, RPI does have a diverse mix of students, but the demographics skew towards male students in part due to the school’s engineering focus. The student body does represent a wide range of racial, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds, though, and also includes a healthy amount of international students. It's an environment where you can meet people from different walks of life and learn from a variety of perspectives, who all likely share a passion for engineering.

If you do end up applying to RPI and are looking for tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, consider checking out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle RPI’s school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-essays.

Best of luck with your college search!