Transfer Students Guidelines
The School of Architecture at Rensselaer welcomes transfer student applicants from allied programs in Architecture, Architectural Technology or Building Sciences and from unrelated degree programs. We recognize that there are many reasons students may decide to change schools and are ready to review and accept academic work completed at other two- or four-year programs. We also recognize that in their first year or two of an educational program many students realize their true passion is for and would like to change degree programs altogether.
To accommodate those needs the school accepts applications on a rolling basis through March 1. Faculty members are ready to meet with applicants, review their academic history and provide early indicators of the transfer credits they are likely to receive and how they would integrate into the degree program.
Read about the experiences of past transfer students.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Admissions Process
Rensselaer is committed to a diverse and inclusive campus, however since the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action in Higher Education, race is not shown in the application material that Admissions reviews, unless the student self-reports it in their essay, for example.
RPI Institute-level Transfer Admission Requirements
Application to Rensselaer Architecture is an online process. Submit an undergraduate transfer application here.
Rensselaer accepts two different applications for transfer students:
The application deadline is March 1st.
Supporting Materials
Students and their current and former institution(s) submit supporting materials for our review along with the application:
- An application fee
- College Transcript (from current and any prior institutions)
- High School transcript (if attended college for less than four full-time semesters)
- At least one letter of recommendation
- A CV
- An essay (optional)
- A portfolio
- Writing supplement
Additional Information
- Application reviews are holistic
- College transcript: The strongest applicants have maintained a 3.0 or higher GPA with transferable coursework
- Letter of Recommendation: A supportive letter from a professor or advisor that speaks about the applicant’s academic skills, ability, and performance in class, and their positive character and personality traits, plus their place within the wider school community.
- Essay (optional): The Common App and Coalition App both offer prompts for students to respond to, or they can use their own idea. Rensselaer reviews essays for the writing style, content and purpose.
- Portfolio Architecture applicants submit a portfolio via SlideRoom, that gets sent to School of Architecture faculty for their review and grade. Please see our portfolio guidelines.
- Writing Supplement: A brief statement describing the student’s interest in the field of Architecture.
Additional Requirements for International Transfer Applicants
Submit an international undergraduate transfer application here.
In addition to the above, international applicants (students who will study on a non-immigrant F-1 or J-1 visa) must submit the following:
- International Student Financial Statement (ISFS): The ISFS form demonstrates evidence of financial support to cover educational and living expenses.
- English Language Proficiency Examination: Students must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET) or Pearson’s Test of English (PTE).
- InitialView, Duolingo, or Vericant Interview (optional): Rensselaer encourages all international applicants to participate in an interview through one of the following programs as part of their application: InitialView; The Duolingo English Test (DET); OR Vericant.
Credit Review
(See section below for architecture-specific transfer credits)
After acceptance, course information (course description and/or syllabus) is provided to each of the applicable official school credit evaluators (i.e. architecture course information is provided to the School of Architecture; science course information is provided to the School of Science) for review. Credit evaluators inform the Office of Undergraduate Admissions of the appropriate transfer credit to award; this information is compiled from the different school credit evaluators and transfer credit information is provided to the accepted student. The Transfer Credit Guide can be used to determine which non-architecture courses are transferable.
Additional School of Architecture Transfer Admission Requirements
Application to Rensselaer Architecture is an online process. Submit an undergraduate transfer application here.
To be considered, transfer applicants should have completed 12 or more transferable college credits, and must be in good academic standing at the institutions(s) they are attending or have attended. Placement in the program is based on an individual review of the candidate’s academic achievement, course syllabi, course learning outcomes, CV, and portfolio as well as the fulfillment of the Student SC and PC Criteria in accordance with the NAAB 2020 Conditions. See our portfolio guidelines here.
Academic Preparation:
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0, special circumstances will be considered when the admissions decision is made
- 12 or more transferable college credits completed
- Updated CV
- Good standing at institution(s) attending or attended
- International transfer students check for any specific international admissions requirements can be found here.
Transfer Student Deadlines:
Architecture applicants must submit their portfolios with their applications online at SlideRoom. All materials, including creative portfolio, are due March 1.
Transfer Credits
Students must submit all course materials to the school of architecture B. Arch. Student Service Administrator, or Associate Dean, by July 1 to be considered for transfer credit. RPI’s Maximum number of transfer credits is 32. Rensselaer will only transfer credit for courses in which you received a grade of C or better. Once accepted, you will receive an evaluation of your course work from the Rensselaer faculty. To ensure the most complete evaluation, please have official transcripts and course descriptions sent from all previously attended colleges. The Transfer Credit Guide can be used to determine which non-architecture courses are transferable, all architecture course materials must be evaluated by our faculty committee to verify if the course learning outcomes meet the NAAB standards for accreditation and to determine whether any gaps exist.
In order to earn an undergraduate degree from Rensselaer a student must be registered full-time for a minimum of four semesters and must complete at least 64 credits at Rensselaer, all of which will be applied to the baccalaureate degree.
If you would like to transfer AP, IB, or A level credit from your high school, make sure your official test results are sent directly to:
Rensselaer Admissions, Transfer Programs
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180
Tuition and Fees
Find cost of attendance information here.
Find financial aid information here.