Applicants requesting financial aid should submit the completed application and all supporting materials by the application deadline, to ensure competitive consideration for awards (Later applicants with strong credentials will be considered pending the availability of aid.)

Rensselaer research and teaching assistantships and university, corporate, or national fellowships fund many of Rensselaer's full-time graduate students. Assistantships are based upon the applicant's academic record, previous experience or potential, and recommendations. A fixed number of Teaching Assistant (TA) and institutionally supported Research Assistant (IRA) positions are available to each department in order to attract the very highest quality students. For each of these positions, Rensselaer will provide tuition waivers and stipends. A full-time graduate student assistant is responsible for a maximum of 20 hours of work weekly, which may include aiding in the classroom, in the laboratory, or in research. The continuation of financial assistance is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties and satisfactory academic progress, as well as aid availability. Notification of awards begins in February and is made by the department directly to the applicant.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits qualified students without regard to gender, sexual preference, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, marital status, or disability.