Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is among the nation’s best colleges and universities for students seeking an outstanding education with great career preparation, according to The Princeton Review.
The education company profiles Rensselaer in the 2018 edition of its annual guide, Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck. In addition, Rensselaer placed 19th on the ranking list “Best Career Placement.”
The Princeton Review based its selections on a comprehensive analysis of data from surveys of administrators at more than 650 colleges in 2016-17. Survey topics broadly covered academics, cost, financial aid, career services, graduation rates, student debt, and alumni support.
The company also factored in data from PayScale.com surveys of alumni of the schools about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction. In all, more than 40 data points were assessed to select the schools for the book and tally its seven ranking lists.
“Only 7 percent of the nations’ four-year colleges made it into this book,” said Robert Franek, lead author and The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “These schools were bona fide standouts for the return they deliver on one’s college investment. They offer stellar academics, generous aid awards to students with need and/or merit, and provide all of their undergrads with career services from day one plus a lifetime of alumni connections.”
In the book’s profile of Rensselaer, the editors note, “The RPI name has a great reputation with science and tech employers, and many [students] take part in co-ops throughout the academic year.”
They also report that Rensselaer graduates feel that their jobs have a high level of meaningful impact on the world, and that the average starting salary for gradates with a bachelor’s degree is $67,500, with a mid-career salary of $130,000.
Students surveyed noted the Institute’s focus on problem-solving and opportunities to be involved in hands-on research and real-world experiences “to equip each student with the skills needed to be a valuable member of any research team or company.”
