Physical Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded 48 bachelor's degrees in physical sciences in 2023, 3.8% of its 1,247 graduates, which makes it the 8th most common field of study at the school. Nationally, 1.29% of bachelor's degrees are in this field, so it is far more concentrated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.9x the national share). 38% of those graduates were women.
Is physical sciences competitive at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Colleges report one admission rate for the whole school; here is the bar you are actually measured against, and how the model treats this major.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admitted 9,517 of 16,283 applicants for fall 2023 (63%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1375 to 1510 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Physics / Chemistry" as more competitive than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's overall rate (multiplier 0.98 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
How to apply to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for physical sciences
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Chemistry and physics at the highest level, with calculus
- A lab or research experience, even a small one, described specifically
- Math depth matters as much as science grades here
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for physical sciences →
Where else to study physical sciences
Other colleges in New York and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by physical sciences graduates: colleges that graduate the most physical sciences majors → · Physical Sciences colleges in New York →
More majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The other fields Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates the most students in, 2023.
Questions about physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
How many students major in physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
48 students earned a bachelor's degree in physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2023, 3.8% of that year's 1,247 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is physical sciences competitive at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admitted 9,517 of 16,283 applicants for fall 2023 (63%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1375 to 1510 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Physics / Chemistry" as more competitive than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's overall rate (multiplier 0.98 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for physical sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
There is no official major-level acceptance rate; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reports one school-wide figure, 63%. Some programs (direct-admit nursing, engineering and business schools) select separately and can be more selective than the school overall. CollegeCalcAI's calculator applies its published per-major adjustment and shows your estimate for this school with the major set.
Is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute known for physical sciences?
By output, physical sciences is the 8th most common field at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and far more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (3.8% of graduates versus 1.29% nationally).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 Completions (bachelor's degrees, first majors, CIP 2-digit series). Admissions counts: IPEDS 2023. Built 2026-09-19. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are not predictions or guarantees.