My son got into RPI and did not get into a lower ranked, lower SAT score, lower GPA, similar focus college.
The fact is that RPI is both raising tuition (around 4% between this year and last from my calculation) and accepting more students than their yield can handle. They are breaking promises to their upperclassmen.
So if they go ahead this year, class of 2018, and admit as many as before, I would be shocked. Of course, they have to pay Shirley’s salary…
And as for the OP, my experience was that the NPC grossly underestimated how little aid my son got. Like 10K less aid + grants/merit. So if the OP’s family could not afford what the RPI NPC said, I wish them the best of luck. Because we didn’t even get what the NPC said…