Rochester Institute of Technology
A technology, art and design university in suburban Rochester where paid co-op work is built into most majors.
- Acceptance rate
- 71%
- Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-2026)
- Students
- 16,713
- 14,145 undergraduates
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $63,508
- 2026-27
About RIT
Rochester Institute of Technology traces its roots to the Rochester Athenaeum, founded in 1829, which merged with the Mechanics Institute in 1891. Its main campus covers 1,300 acres in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester, New York, and in fall 2025 it enrolled 16,713 students there, 14,145 of them undergraduates. RIT also runs global campuses in Dubai, Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Kosovo, where students earn RIT degrees.
Majors sit in nine colleges and two degree-granting units, from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences to the College of Art and Design, with film, animation and photography, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which the federal government placed at RIT in 1966. Computing and engineering together account for about half of bachelor's degrees awarded. The defining feature is cooperative education: co-op is built into most programs, and students alternate full-time paid work terms with semesters on campus; more than 4,500 students worked co-ops or internships with over 3,400 employers last year.
Admission is moderately selective: 22,439 of 31,565 first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (71%), though some majors fill up and applying early helps. RIT suits applicants who want a technical or creative degree with real work experience on the CV before graduation.
Why students choose RIT
Co-op is built into most majors, and RIT students earned $67.7 million on co-op in a year, according to the university.
U.S. News ranks RIT No. 5 among Schools with Great Internships/Co-ops in its 2027 Best Colleges edition.
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf is one of RIT's colleges, providing interpreting and captioning so deaf and hard-of-hearing students study alongside hearing classmates.
Every applicant is automatically considered for merit scholarships of $14,000 to $30,000 a year for first-years, including international students.
Admissions
Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-2026)
22,439 admitted from 31,565 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
The 2025-26 Common Data Set reports Early Decision admitting 1,028 of 1,405 applicants (the form labels that line 'fall 2024 entering class', so the cohort year is uncertain). RIT says early applicants stand out in a smaller pool with higher acceptance rates, especially for competitive majors. Art, design, and film and animation programs also require a portfolio.
Typical entry requirements
| General preparation | 4 years of English, 3 years of social studies or history, 3-4 years of mathematics and 2-3 years of science; requirements rise by college |
|---|---|
| Engineering and most computing majors | 4 years of math through pre-calculus (calculus preferred); engineering requires chemistry and physics, most computing majors chemistry or physics |
| Art, design, film and animation | Portfolio of original work required (except New Media Design) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Minimums for full admission: TOEFL iBT 79 (4.5 on the new 1-6 scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE Academic 58, LanguageCert Academic 70, Michigan English Test 58. Applicants below these can be admitted conditionally with English Language Center courses. Self-reported scores are accepted to apply. |
Deadlines
- Early Decision I Binding Next deadline · In 25 daysNovember 1, 2026
Decision mid-December; $500 deposit due January 15.
- Early Action Non-binding In 25 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding; decision late January; reply by May 1.
- Early Decision II Binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 1, 2027
Decision mid-January; $500 deposit due February 15.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Decision mid-March; reply by May 1. Later applications are reviewed on a space-available basis.
RIT's application timeline for fall 2027 lists the dates without a year; they correspond to November 1, 2026, January 1, 2027 and January 15, 2027. The recommended FAFSA filing date matches each deadline.
How to apply
Common Application or RIT Application; $65 fee; official high school transcript; at least one recommendation (counselor preferred); one essay from the Common App or RIT Application prompts, with no RIT supplement unless applying to the Honors Program or the Individualized Study BS; portfolio for art, design, and film and animation; English test for non-native speakers. Applications open August 1.
What admissions looks for
- Very important in the Common Data Set: rigor of the secondary school record and academic GPA.
- Important: class rank, test scores if submitted, the essay, recommendations, and character and personal qualities.
- Considered: interview, extracurricular activities, talent, first-generation status, volunteer and work experience, and demonstrated interest.
- RIT says it looks for character, resilience and problem-solving skills, plus the right subject preparation for your major and portfolio quality where one is required.
Tips for applying to RIT
- 1 Take the math and science your target college asks for: engineering expects pre-calculus (calculus preferred) plus both chemistry and physics.
- 2 If RIT is your first choice, Early Decision I or II gives an earlier decision and financial aid offer, and RIT says early acceptance rates are higher for competitive majors.
- 3 Unsure of a major? Apply to a College Exploration program (for example Computing or Engineering Exploration) or the School of Individualized Study.
- 4 If you apply to a STEM program with the ACT, include the optional Science section, as RIT recommends.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Rochester Institute of Technology
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
All admitted first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for merit scholarships of $14,000 to $30,000 a year for first-years, applied to tuition, plus 11 other RIT scholarships. Need-based aid uses the FAFSA; in 2025-26 RIT met on average 92% of need for first-years with need. International students receive merit scholarships, but full-tuition awards are not offered and need-based funding is very limited.
- $84,868 (billed $81,978 plus $2,890 books, transport and personal costs)
- 2026-27 cost of attendance
- 100%
- Incoming first-year and transfer students receiving aid
- 92% (Common Data Set 2025-2026)
- Average need met, full-time first-years
- $46,429
- Average need-based grant, first-years
- 437, averaging $25,163
- International undergraduates receiving institutional aid
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters, with co-op blocks and summer terms
Computer Science and computing
RIT started one of the first undergraduate computer science programs in the US in 1972; computing majors account for about a quarter of bachelor's degrees.
Game Design and Development
Housed in computing and supported by MAGIC Spell Studios, a 52,000 sq ft game and media production facility opened in 2018.
Film, Animation and Photographic Arts
Portfolio-based programs in the College of Art and Design, alongside a Photographic Sciences degree that requires four years of math.
Engineering (Kate Gleason College)
Co-op built into the degree; applicants need pre-calculus plus chemistry and physics.
Imaging Science
Taught through the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, founded in 1986, with BS, MS and PhD programs.
Cybersecurity
Backed by the Global Cybersecurity Institute, founded in 2020 with a $50 million gift from alumnus Austin McChord.
Research
- RIT reported $103 million in sponsored research awards in fiscal year 2024.
- The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, founded in 1986, launched RIT's first doctoral program in 1989.
- The Global Cybersecurity Institute opened after a $50 million gift from Datto founder Austin McChord.
- Imagine RIT, held each spring, puts hundreds of student and faculty research and design exhibits on public view.
Schools & faculties
- College of Art and Design
- Saunders College of Business
- Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
- Kate Gleason College of Engineering
- College of Engineering Technology
- College of Health Sciences and Technology
- College of Liberal Arts
- National Technical Institute for the Deaf
- College of Science
- Golisano Institute for Sustainability
- School of Individualized Study
RIT reports that 90.9% of graduates were employed, in full-time graduate study or pursuing alternative plans within six months of graduation, and that 95% of co-op employers say they would hire their co-op student full time.
Student life
Most first-years live on campus (95% in fall 2025), and the residence halls and academic buildings are linked by the Quarter Mile walkway. The year runs on campus festivals: TigerFest in August, Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend in October, FreezeFest in winter with its white-tiger mascot Roarie, and Imagine RIT in April, when the whole campus becomes an open exhibition. Most teams compete in NCAA Division III in the Liberty League, but men's and women's ice hockey play Division I. Deaf and hearing students share classes and clubs because NTID is on the same campus.
- Imagine RIT, an annual festival of hundreds of student and faculty exhibits (April 24, 2027).
- Division I men's and women's ice hockey in Atlantic Hockey America; other sports compete in NCAA Division III.
- Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend (October 16-18, 2026) and FreezeFest (January 31 to February 6, 2027).
- About 6,400 students work on campus, in addition to co-op.
Housing. 95% of first-years lived in college housing in fall 2025, falling to about half of all undergraduates as students move to apartments and off campus.
Location
RIT's main campus is in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester, the third-largest city in New York state. RIT describes Rochester as large enough for the dining and nightlife of a bigger city but small and friendly enough to feel accessible. Campus is about five miles from Greater Rochester International Airport, which is served by most major airlines, and the city has Amtrak and intercity bus connections.
Nearest airport: Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), about 5 miles
Notable alumni
- KK Koo Kwang-moChairman of LG Group; bachelor's in computer science from RIT
- JR John ResigCreator of the jQuery JavaScript library; BS in computer science, 2009
- AM Austin McChordFounder of data backup company Datto; RIT bachelor's graduate
- NK N. Katherine HaylesLiterary and media theorist; BS in chemistry, 1966
- TC Tom CurleyFormer president and CEO of the Associated Press; MBA from RIT
- SM Steve MattesonTypeface designer of Open Sans and Droid; RIT graduate, 1988
- BB Bernie BostonPhotojournalist known for the Flower Power photograph; graduated 1955
Frequently asked questions
What is RIT's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, RIT admitted 22,439 of 31,565 first-year applicants, about 71%. The 2025-26 Common Data Set reports Early Decision admitting 1,028 of 1,405 applicants.
Is RIT test-optional?
Yes. RIT is test-optional for all undergraduate programs and superscores the SAT and ACT if you submit them. Among enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted scores, the middle 50% was 1310-1440 on the SAT and 30-34 on the ACT.
How does co-op work at RIT?
Co-op is built into most RIT programs: you alternate semesters on campus with full-time, paid work terms in your field. Last year more than 4,500 students worked co-ops or internships with over 3,400 employers.
How much does RIT cost in 2026-27?
Tuition is $63,508 for both domestic and international students, and the estimated total cost of attendance is $84,868 including fees, housing, meals, books and personal costs. First-year merit scholarships range from $14,000 to $30,000 a year.
What English test scores does RIT require from international students?
For full admission RIT asks for TOEFL iBT 79 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120 or PTE Academic 58. Applicants with lower scores can be admitted conditionally and take English Language Center courses.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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