Earned Through Experience
Lead a team. Manage real investments. Build with AI. Serve your community. Earn your distinction.
At the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, students do more than study business. They practice it.
The Lally Scholars Program is a selective, experiential distinction for undergraduate students at Lally. Scholars build a verified portfolio of real work across leadership, research, investing, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, service, and professional development. At graduation, each Scholar earns the Lally Scholars Achievement Record, an official credential that documents what they completed, what they built, and the competencies they developed.
What is the Lally Scholars Program?
The Lally Scholars Program is an experiential distinction at RPI’s Lally School of Management. It is designed for motivated undergraduate students who want to do meaningful work while earning their degree.
Scholars complete five foundational commitments shared by the cohort, then choose at least four additional elective engagements that match their goals. These experiences may include faculty research, the James Student-Managed Investment Fund, study abroad, entrepreneurship, corporate immersion, case competitions, community outreach, pro bono consulting, published writing, or additional professional certifications.
Every Scholar completes a capstone and presents their work at the Lally Scholars Symposium. At graduation, the school issues a verified Achievement Record signed by the Dean and designed to show employers and graduate programs what the student actually accomplished.
A transcript shows the courses a student completed. The Lally Scholars Achievement Record shows the work a student did.
Built on RPI’s tradition of learning by doing
RPI was founded in 1824 to teach the application of science to the common purposes of life. From the beginning, Rensselaer students were expected to learn by doing the work themselves. That founding idea remains one of the most powerful parts of an RPI education.
The Lally Scholars Program carries that tradition into modern business education.
Today’s organizations need graduates who can move between business, technology, data, people, and strategy. They need professionals who can analyze problems, lead teams, use emerging tools responsibly, communicate clearly, and show evidence of what they can do. Lally Scholars develop those skills through sustained, documented experience.
Scholars do not only study leadership. They lead.
They do not only study finance. They manage real capital.
They do not only learn about artificial intelligence. They build with it.
They do not only prepare for interviews. They graduate with verified evidence of their work.
Start with five shared commitments, choose your own path, present your capstone, and graduate with a verified record of real work.
How it worksA verified credential that turns your Lally experiences into proof employers and graduate schools can trust.
Lally Scholars Achievement RecordLally Scholars build experience where business meets technology: investing real capital, creating with AI, researching with faculty, and exploring what comes next.
Scholars Signature ExperiencesOpen to Lally undergraduate and dual-major students, the program offers two ways to earn your place: invitation at admission or application from within Lally.
Who is Eligible?Frequently asked questions
The Lally Scholars Program is different from a traditional honors label. It is an experiential distinction earned through substantial work and verified by the school. Grades matter, but the program is built around applied experiences, leadership, research, AI, investing, service, and a final capstone.
Strong admitted students may receive an invitation from the Dean with their offer of admission. There is no additional application fee for invited students.
Yes. Current sophomores and juniors in Lally with a 3.4 GPA may apply each January through the internal pathway.
Students need a 3.4 GPA to confirm or apply for Scholar status and must maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing.
Lally Scholars complete an AI Academy sprint, join the Scholars Society, take on a leadership or engagement role, complete a professional milestone, complete a capstone, and choose at least four elective engagements. These may include faculty research, the James Student-Managed Investment Fund, study abroad, entrepreneurship, corporate immersion, case competitions, community outreach, pro bono consulting, and more.
The Achievement Record is an official, verified credential issued by the Lally School of Management. It documents the Scholar’s completed experiences, outcomes, and competencies. It is designed to help employers and graduate schools understand what the student actually did.
The program is open to Lally undergraduate majors and Lally dual majors.
The Lally Scholars Program launches in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
