Grants are need-based aid that you do not have to repay. Grants are offered based on the results of your FAFSA.
For details about eligibility, award limit considerations, and applying refer to RPI's Academic Catalog.
Rensselaer Grant*
Need-based grant awarded to students with strong academic and extracurricular achievement, contingent upon demonstrated financial need. The award may change if financial need decreases.
Rennselaer Access Grant*
This limited need-based grant is awarded to students who demonstrate extreme financial hardship as determined by the Rensselaer Office of Financial Aid. Award amounts may change if the student’s demonstrated need decreases significantly.
Federal Pell Grant
Pell Grant amounts vary depending on the student’s number of degree-applicable credit hours of enrollment. Here are the credit hour ranges used to determine award amounts:
| Enrollment Status | Range of Eligible Credits |
|---|---|
| Full Time | 12+ credits |
| Three-Quarter Time | 9 - 11 credits |
| Half Time | 6 - 8 credits |
| Less Than Half Time | 5 or fewer credits |
Pell Grants offered to students are pro-rated based on their number of credit hours. For example:
| Enrollment Status | Number of Eligible Credits | Percent of Pell Grant Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 12+ | 100% |
| Three-Quarter Time | 9 | 75% |
| Half Time | 6 | 50% |
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG / SEOG)
Additional grants made to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Maximum award is $4,000.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Awards are subject to change based on the availability of federal funds and may be reduced or canceled if modifications occur at the federal level after the initial award notification. RPI does not guarantee replacement of reduced or canceled Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants with institutional funding.
New York State - Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
- Need-based grant for New York State residents, applicable only toward tuition.
- TAP awards are estimated based on the data provided and require completion of an Express TAP Application (ETA) with the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Rensselaer disburses TAP funds after enrollment certification is completed each term.
*Donor-Funded Awards
Awards marked with an asterisk (*) are supported by alumni and friends. For merit-based awards, part or all may be replaced with an endowed award matching the student’s profile. For need-based awards, part or all may be replaced by an endowed, need-based award.
