The MS in Renewable and Clean Energy at the University of Dayton's School of Engineering sits inside one of the more distinctive research environments available to a mid-sized US private university: the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), a more than $2.5 billion sponsored-research operation with over 640 full-time researchers, working in a region dense with aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing employers anchored by the neighboring Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. For international applicants who want a genuine engineering research culture without Ivy-tier selectivity or cost, UD's clean energy program pairs a STEM-designated master's (unlocking a 3-year OPT window for most graduates) with direct proximity to employers who work across aerospace, sensors, and increasingly, energy systems.
This guide walks through exactly what it takes to get into UD's Renewable and Clean Energy master's program: acceptance rate realities, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and what graduates go on to do.
Acceptance Rate
UD does not publish a graduate-wide acceptance rate, and it does not publish one specifically for the MS in Renewable and Clean Energy. What we know, grounded in UD's own published data:
- UD's undergraduate acceptance rate is approximately 65%, the only acceptance-rate figure UD publishes at any level. This is an undergraduate, university-wide figure, not a graduate or program-specific number, and should be read as an honest signal of UD's general accessibility relative to elite private universities rather than a precise predictor for this specific master's program.
- UD's own materials state plainly that its graduate acceptance rate varies by department and is not published on a university-wide basis, so no more precise number exists for this program.
- As a specialized engineering master's tied closely to UDRI's research divisions, admission is likely to hinge more on academic and research fit with available faculty and funded projects than on a fixed numerical bar.
Bottom line: treat 65% as a directionally honest signal that UD is a considerably more accessible university than Ivy-tier peers, but not as a Renewable and Clean Energy-specific admit rate, since no such figure exists.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
UD's MS in Renewable and Clean Energy is priced at the School of Engineering's graduate rate, distinct from UD's blended, university-wide graduate average:
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (School of Engineering graduate rate) | $35,300 |
| Estimated living expenses | $15,000 |
| Estimated total cost per year | ~$50,300 |
For the standard two-year program, this puts total sticker-price cost at roughly $100,600 before any funding. UD's graduate application fee is $50. Graduate Assistantships (teaching or research), particularly common in engineering, offer tuition remission plus a stipend to admitted students, including international applicants, though these are awarded competitively by individual departments rather than guaranteed.
Admission Requirements
UD's MS in Renewable and Clean Energy admission runs through UD's standard graduate application process to the School of Engineering. Based on UD's published requirements:
- Graduate application via UD's admissions portal
- Official transcripts showing a four-year bachelor's degree (16 years of education) from a regionally accredited institution, typically in engineering or a closely related technical field
- Statement of purpose, connecting your background and interests to UD's specific engineering research divisions
- Letters of recommendation (number varies by program)
- Resume/CV
- English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo) unless exempt
- GRE or GMAT scores are not required for this program; UD requires GRE/GMAT only for specific programs such as Master of Finance-STEM and select Education/Health Sciences or PhD programs
Deadlines are June 1 for Fall intake (most programs), November 1 for Spring, and March 1 for Summer, all on a rolling, program-specific decision timeline.
How to Get Into UD's Renewable and Clean Energy Program
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Write a statement of purpose that connects to UD's actual research strengths. UDRI's core divisions run through aerospace mechanics, sensor systems, and materials/composites, and clean-energy work increasingly intersects with all three; naming specific faculty or research areas you'd want to work with signals genuine fit rather than a generic "clean energy" interest.
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Lean on your engineering fundamentals, not just enthusiasm for sustainability. Because this is a technical, engineering-housed master's rather than a policy or environmental-studies degree, admissions readers want to see thermodynamics, materials science, or electrical/mechanical engineering fundamentals clearly represented in your transcript.
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Clear the English-proficiency floor with room to spare. UD's graduate minimum (IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 80) is moderate compared to elite research universities, but strong Speaking and Writing scores matter more in practice once you're presenting research to faculty and, potentially, to UDRI's industry partners.
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Understand the STEM-OPT advantage before you apply, and say so in your application. Many of UD's engineering master's programs, including this one, are STEM-designated, qualifying graduates for a 3-year OPT window; framing your post-graduation plans around this timeline shows realistic, well-researched intent.
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Use UD's Intensive English Program if you're close but not quite at the English-proficiency floor. The Learning Teaching Center's IEP functions as a genuine conditional-admission bridge for graduate applicants too, letting academically qualified students complete English coursework and transition directly into the degree.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
UD's Renewable and Clean Energy program follows UD's standard graduate English-proficiency policy:
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0; some individual graduate programs may require a higher score, so confirm with the School of Engineering
- TOEFL: minimum 80 iBT (roughly 4.5 on ETS's redesigned scale being phased in from January 2026), recommended 90
- PTE: minimum 60; Duolingo: minimum 110
- Waiver: exempt if you hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited US institution, or from an English-medium institution in a country such as the UK, Canada, or Australia
- Conditional bridge: the Learning Teaching Center's Intensive English Program is available to graduate applicants who are academically qualified but fall short of the English-proficiency minimum, allowing conditional entry pending completion of IEP coursework
For general UD admissions and requirements context, see the University of Dayton guide.
Career Outcomes
UD does not publish outcomes data specific to the Renewable and Clean Energy program, but the university's broader graduate recruiting picture, concentrated in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, gives a strong proxy given the overlap between those fields and clean energy engineering:
- Top recruiters (graduate, university-wide): the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) itself, GE Aerospace, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base contractors, Emerson, and L3Harris Technologies, several of which increasingly work on energy-efficiency, sensor, and materials projects adjacent to renewable and clean energy engineering
- STEM-OPT eligibility: as a STEM-designated master's, graduates qualify for a 3-year OPT window rather than the standard 1-year period, giving substantially more runway to secure employer sponsorship
- UD's close ties to UDRI mean that graduate students in engineering programs, including this one, have a realistic path to direct research employment with UDRI itself, not just external recruiting
UD does not publish a graduate employment rate or average starting salary for this program, so applicants should treat the regional aerospace/defense/energy employer base and STEM-OPT eligibility as the most concrete available signals of program outcomes.
FAQ
Does UD publish an acceptance rate for the Renewable and Clean Energy master's? No. UD does not publish a graduate-wide acceptance rate, let alone a program-specific one. The only published figure is UD's undergraduate acceptance rate of approximately 65%, which is not directly applicable to this graduate program.
How much does UD's MS in Renewable and Clean Energy cost? Tuition is $35,300/year at the School of Engineering's graduate rate, with an estimated total annual cost (including living expenses) of around $50,300, roughly $100,600 for the full two-year program before any funding.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for this program? UD's standard graduate minimums apply: IELTS 6.5 overall or TOEFL iBT 80 (roughly 4.5 on the redesigned scale). Some individual programs may set a higher bar, so confirm with the School of Engineering directly.
Is the GRE required for UD's Renewable and Clean Energy master's? No. UD requires GRE or GMAT scores only for specific programs, such as Master of Finance-STEM and select Education, Health Sciences, or PhD programs, not for this engineering master's.
Does this program qualify for the 3-year STEM-OPT extension? Most of UD's engineering master's programs are STEM-designated, which typically qualifies graduates for a 3-year OPT window rather than the standard one year, though applicants should confirm the specific program's STEM designation before enrolling.
Does UD offer conditional admission if my English score is below the requirement? Yes. UD's Learning Teaching Center runs an Intensive English Program (IEP) that functions as a conditional-admission pathway for graduate applicants as well as undergraduates: academically qualified applicants who fall short of the direct-entry English score can still be admitted, complete IEP coursework, and then move into their degree program.