<p>RPI has spent a fair amount of time and effort under President Jackson in making the campus more attractive to undergrads - the athletic village, EMPAC, etc. They are fairly generous on Fin Aid, including merit aid, and they have made strides in becoming more gender balanced. They have introduced new, innovative, programs, and pioneered (or so we were told) innovative undergrad teaching methods. </p>
<p>Given that, its not surprising that they have gotten results in growing numbers of applicants, lower acceptance rates, higher SAT scores of admitted students, etc. </p>
<p>Its also not surprising that that does not translate directly into improved results on engineering research, grants, and hence engineering dept rankings. </p>
<p>I do not know at what point they will decide they have made enough progress in becoming more selective in admissions, and will focus more on engineering research (other than nanotech which seems to be a current focus). </p>
<p>I do expect that RPI overall will move up the USNWR nat univ rankings because A. Their acceptance rate is lower than in the last go round and B. USNWR is lowering the Peer Assesment portion, and introducing HS GC assesment, and yield, both areas where they do better against the schools close to them in USNWR rank than for peer assesment. </p>
<p>I do not know how the engineering rankings are evolving.</p>