Join Alex and Edward on a virtual campus tour

Your department will reach out with information relevant to your specific program. Please check your RPI email regularly for any communication. If you want to get in touch or have a question, it is best to start with an email to your graduate program administrator. You can find departmental contacts on our Contact Us page.   

RPI is located in the city of Troy, NY. For information on traveling to and from Troy, please check out this website: https://www.downtowntroy.org/getting-here. 

From Albany Airport (ALB): The closest airport is Albany International Airport (ALB). Despite the name, there are currently only domestic flights to Albany. If arriving at Albany Airport, the easiest way to get to campus is by taxi or rideshare. Both Lyft and Uber are available in the capital region.

From New York City: New York city has three international airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Airport (EWR). 

From these airports, there are several ways that you can get to RPI:

1) Shutttle: There is a shuttle service between JFK, Newark, LaGuardia and Albany Internatioanl Airport. Visit this website for accurate information: https://ridepremiere.com/airport-shuttle. While the shuttle will pick you up directly at the arrival airport, you will still need transportation from Albany Airport to RPI. 

2) Train: The Amtrak train will take you from Penn Station to Rensselaer Station.  Visit Amtrak Website for ticket information and schedules: https://www.amtrak.com/home

3) Bus: there are several bus companies with service from NYC to Rensselaer. Buses typically leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) and arrive either at Albany or Rensselaer bus terminals. You can check: www.greyhound.com or https://www.megabus.com.

For the above two options (train and bus) you will need to get from the airport to the station/terminal. You can explore your options here: 

https://new-york-jfk-airport.com/transportation/

https://www.newarkairport.com/to-from-airport/airport-directions

https://www.laguardiaairport.com/to-from-airport/public-transportation

Finally, you will need to get from the Rensselaer station to RPI - the easiest option here is either taxi or rideshare. 

Once on campus, here is a map to help find your way around. 

Graduate students typically live off-campus. This website: https://sll.rpi.edu/off-campus-commons provides information on housing options, as well as information on the Troy community. If you need advice on finding a house in a good area, please reach out to Graham Knowles, Associate Dean, off campus common.

The RIN (Rensselaer Identification Number) is your main campus ID. It is the nine digit number that begins with 66 that you can see on your acceptance documentation. Next, you need to activate your Rensselaer Computing System(RCS) account, and obtain your campus card. You will find the instructions here: Primary Campus Accounts and Services.

The above document also provides useful information on other campus systems, parking, disability services and accommodations, and campus safety information. For additional information on how to set up the VPN, phone applications, software downloads, and more, please visit: https://dotcio.rpi.edu.

General information on the campus health and wellness, campus health requirements, and other health center services can be found here. 

The student health insurance plan is available to all students with coverage beginning August 1, 2025. For fall semester enrollment, the deadline is September 1; For the spring semester, the deadline is February 1. You can see all of the health insurance information (and waiver options) here: https://haylor.com/college/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-rpi/. You can learn more about the medical and dental plan and to download your insurance card. We provided a screenshot of what you need to look for on the Website below: 

Graduate students health insurance fees appear on each student's eBill but are removed if a waiver is accepted by the applicable deadline. Graduate students dental fees (through Delta Dental) also appear on each student's eBill but is removed if a waiver is accepted by the applicable deadline. Part-time graduate students would pay directly through the student insurance enrollment portal.

If you have questions about your health insurance please reach out to Bonnie Bornt, Departmental Insurance Rep, borntb@rpi.edu, 518-276-2997

International students should review the information for new students from the office of International Services for Students and Scholars (ISSS). This page contains important information to help you prepare for coming to the U.S., as well as things to consider once you are here. It also provides information on banking, housing, communications, and more.

Relocating to a new place involves upfront costs such as airfare, housing and utilities deposits, basic purchases, campus fees, and more. Students should plan accordingly and prepare an initial budget until they begin to receive their stipend (if applicable). You can see the stipend pay scheduled under the "payroll" tab further down on this page. If you received an offer letter, it should clearly state your academic year stipend amount and potential summer support amount. Please budget based on this information.

Below are estimated costs of living in Troy. Please note that these estimated costs apply to a single adult with no children. All estimates are for the calendar year (that is, Fall, Spring and Summer).

Food - $500/month (for groceries, please see the USDA food plans for more information)

Housing - You can find rates starting around $650 for a single bedroom in a shared house/apartment (with or without a private bathroom) and up to $1100 for a one bedroom apartment. Please check the Housing section on this page for more information

Utilities - this cost depends on the house you live in and your individual usage, but the average monthly cost for Troy, NY is around $165/month. This is something you should ask about when searching for a house to rent. You should also look at National Grid's budget plan option to make planning easier. 

Subscriptions/Technology - high speed Internet, wireless plan, streaming services can add up to $150-$200/month

Transportation - Your Rensselaer ID allows you to ride all CDTA bus routes, including STAR and NX services, at no charge. You also have free access to the CDPHP Cycle program. You should budget around $200/month for transportation (car, uber, trains, etc)

Health Insurance - for AY25-26 the health insurance cost is $2,130/year. Dental insurance cost is $196/year.

Campus fees - for AY25-26 the campus health center fee is $406/semester. Other graduate fees total $304/semester. Please note that campus fees are charged to your eBill at the beginning of the semester. If you have an assistantship (e.g. RA or TA), please check your offer letter for specific information on fees due. It is recommended that you include all fees in your relocation budget, you may not receive your stipend before the fees are due. For information on payment plans please see: https://finance.rpi.edu/bursar/payments

Please review the attached presentation to learn about our Registration Procedures. Please pay special attention to the thesis/dissertation credits explanation on slide 13. 

Information on the Fall 2025 academic orientation and TA training seminar will be posted here. Please make sure you register for the required orientation course. 

Departments and schools offer additional orientation activities. Contact your department directly for more information on required orientation and your expected arrival date. The Contact Us page on this Website provides the names and emails of all graduate program directors (GPDs) and graduate program administrators (GPAs). 

English Language Requirement for International Student TAs. Fall 2025 Semester:  
New TAs who are international students may be required to complete COMM 1350: Effective Communication for Class Pedagogy, which is a language skill building course. Screening will be based on the standard testing scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) submitted with your application.  Students who are required to take the course will be notified via email and asked to register for the course. There is a course fee or approximately $100 for software use.

Rensselaer is required to complete Form I-9 for each individual that is hired for employment (such as TAs and RAs). This includes citizens and noncitizens. There is a portion of the form for students to complete, and a portion that Rensselaer as the employer must complete. Part of this process includes presenting us with acceptable documents evidencing your identity and employment authorization. You may not begin working until your I-9 verification process is completed.

Students who are on campus must meet with a Student Liaison or make an appointment with the Payroll Office. That person will then be responsible for meeting with you, in person, to view your documents and issue your Student Employment Card. Your department's contact person can help you set this up. Before your meeting, please fill out Section One of Form I-9 at this link. Maintain your receipt code to present at your meeting.

Please note - Rensselaer will not pay student workers to perform work while residing abroad.

Visit the payroll page to set up your direct deposit. If you did not sign up for direct deposit, you will need to walk down to the payroll office to pick up your paper check. You will receive an email on payday to come and pick it up.

Here is the 2024 Student Payroll Calendar. Your first paycheck depends on when you start working. 

To ensure that you have access to nourishing meals, graduate students may purchase meal swipes through Rensselaer Dining Services (click on "Off Campus, Graduate Student and Faculty & Staff Dining Plans"). The graduate students plan offers 20 anytime swipe meals at the cost of $199. For more information, reach out to dining services through the above link, or follow this link to purchase the graduate students meal plan.

For a list of restaurants and cafes that are available on campus please see:

https://rpi.sodexomyway.com/en-us/categories/restaurants-&-cafes

You can use the above mentioned meal swipes at Blitman Hall, Russell Sage Dining Hall, Commons Dining Hall, and Burdett Avenue Residence Hall. 

Rensselaer graduate students have access to discounts on air travel with Southwest airlines. The reduced rates are available to graduate students when booking through swabiz.com. Graduate students must use the Institute’s discount code of 99500402 and have a Rapid Rewards Membership in order to access this discount for their personal use.

Graduate students can also take advantage of T-Mobile Work Perks program.

CDPHP Cycle! RPI Code: the redemption code for a Seasonal Pass for RPI students is: GORED
The seasonal pass allows up to 30 min of free e-bike per day (can be multiple trips), unlimited free minutes for pedal bikes. No unlock fee (even after free time is used up). Once free minutes are used up riders are charged the PAUG rate of $.15/minute. This code can be redeemed through the Credits & Coupons section in the app, in the drop down menu that appear when you click on your name. Once the code is entered you will be prompted to the Membership options for RPI. Please be sure to sign up with your @rpi.edu email. 

Finally, graduate students also have a platform for access to discounts on getaways, things to do and goods: visit: https://bhsonline.accessperks.com/ and enter Registration Code: bhsonline. 

Troy public schools and PreK programs: https://www.troycsd.org/programs/pre-kindergarten/

Daycare programs: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/

Area information and general activities for families:

https://capitaldistrictmoms.com/resources/childrens-activities/

Troy public library offers multiple programs for children and adults: https://www.thetroylibrary.org

Graduate students with families may take advantage of a limited hourly child-care support program offered through Human Resources. Please visit: https://hr.rpi.edu/benefits/child-and-elder-care for more information. The program is intended to help students with unexpected needs, not on a regular basis. Students who would like to utilize this service should email Louis Padula at padull@rpi.edu.

Spouses of graduate students may take courses at RPI during the time they are here. Spouses may audit one course per semester at no cost. To get started, please visit this form. Spouses may also take up to two courses for credit at no cost. To get started, spouses need to apply to RPI as a non-matric student and indicate the specific courses they are interested in taking. The application can be found here: https://apply.rpi.edu/register/Non-Matriculated_Grad. Dependents of international students must contact ISSS to ensure the dependent visa allows you to take courses. 

Finally, spouses of graduate students who wish to obtain a campus card will be waived the $10 card fee. If you have any questions, please email Colleen Smith at smithc15@rpi.edu