Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

About RIT

RIT is a private research university in Rochester, NY that prides itself on blending technology with the arts and design to “shape the future and improve the world”. It consistently ranks among the top U.S. universities (roughly #91 in US News 2025) and is noted as a Best Value school (#41 nationally). A hallmark of RIT is hands-on learning: the university is ranked among the Top 10 in the nation for cooperative education and internships.

• Interdisciplinary programs: RIT comprises 11 colleges offering 100+ degree programs across computing, engineering, business, art and design, health sciences, and morerit.edu.
• Global outreach: The campus community includes ≈2,400 international students (about 30% from Asia, Latin America, Africa, etc.)rit.edu, and RIT maintains overseas campuses in Croatia, Dubai, Kosovo, and Albaniarit.edu.
• Prestige and alumni: Its graduates join a network of 155,000 alumni including CEOs and even Academy Award winnersrit.edu, reflecting RIT’s reputation for innovation.

Why Choose RIT

RIT offers an education built around real-world experience and innovation. Key advantages for international students include:

• Hands-on learning: RIT is nationally recognized for co-op internships; ~95% of co-op employers would re-hire RIT students. About 95.6% of RIT graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.
• High-ranked programs: Many RIT programs are top-ranked. For example, the Bachelor’s in Game Design & Development is ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. (Princeton Review top 50). Other creative/tech fields like film & animation and cybersecurity are also well regarded.
• Innovation focus: RIT’s motto is about creativity and innovation. Its curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary projects (e.g. Imagine RIT festival of student innovations) and combines tech, arts, and design.
• STEM career advantage: Many RIT majors are STEM-designated, so international F-1 students can extend their Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization up to 3 years after graduation.
• Global network: RIT’s alumni include CEOs, entrepreneurs, and award-winning artists. The university’s global campuses and partnerships give students exposure to international perspectives.

#91National Universities Ranked among the top 100 of national universities

41^st on the list of “most innovative schools” according to U.S. News & World Report.

1 The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) is home to the world’s first and largest technological college for deaf and hard-of-hearing students

#6 Top School for Co-op or Internship Programs, Ranked among nation’s best in hands-on career preparation

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate (First-Year):

• High school diploma with transcripts.
• International applicants must meet RIT’s English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL iBT ≥79 or IELTS ≥6.5 for full admission)rit.edu. (Scores slightly below can qualify for conditional admission with ESL courseworkrit.edu.)
• Applicants must also show proof of finances (sponsor letter and recent bank statements) to obtain the I-20 visa formrit.edu.
• SAT or ACT scores optional
• Other typical application materials include letters of recommendation and a personal essay.

Graduate:

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in a relevant field with official transcripts. Requirements vary by program;
• Most require a statement of purpose, resume/CV, letters of recommendation, and program-specific materials.
• All international graduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores are required).

Programs Offered

RIT offers a wide array of academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Undergraduate fields span 11 colleges, including:

• Art and Design: Digital Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Medical Illustration, New Media Design, and Studi Arts (Options: Ceramics, Furniture Design, Glass, Metals and Jewelry, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture and Expanded Forms)
• Business and Management: Accounting, Community Development and Inclusive Leadership, Economics, Finance, Global Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.
• Communication and Digital Media: Advertising and Public Relations, ASL-English Interpretation, Communication (Jurnalism option), Graphic Design, Print and Graphic Media Technology, etc.
• Computing and Information Sciences: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Computational Mathematics, Computer Engineering (Secure Systems option), Computer Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Computing And Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Game Design and Development, Human-Centered Computing, Humanities-Computing and Design, Management Information Systems (MIS), etc.
• Environmental Studies and Sustainability: Civil Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability-Health and Safety, Mechanical Engineering.
• Engineering and Engineering Technology: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering Technology, Imaging Science, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology (Robotics option), Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Robotics and Manufacturing Engineering, etc.
• Game Design, Development, and Arts: 3D Digital Design, Film and Animation, Game Design and Development, Illustration, and New Media Interactive Development.
• Health Professions and Medical Sciences: Bioinformatics. Biology, Biomedical Science, Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, Medical Illustration, etc.
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Applied Modern Language and Culture, ASL-English Interpretation, Criminal Justice, Human-Centered Computing, International and Global Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, Psychology, etc.
• Science and Math: Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Computational Mathematics, Motion Picture Science, Photographic Sciences, etc.
• Photography, Film, and Animation: Film and Animation, Motion Picture Science, Photographic and Imaging Arts, Photographic Sciences, etc.

Popular majors include Computer Science, Cybersecurity (BS) , Software Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, as well as creative fields like Game Design & Development (BS), Film & Animation (BFA), Graphic Design (BFA), 3D Digital Design, and Animation.

Graduate offerings include master’s and doctoral programs across science, technology, art, and business. Most graduate programs are designed to build on RIT’s industry ties, with opportunities for research, internships, and co-ops.

Graduate Programs

• Art, Design, and Architecture: Architecture, Ceramics, Fine Arts Studio, Furniture Design, Glass, Industrial Design, Medical Illustration, Metals and Jewelry Design, Visual-Arts, Visual Communication Design, etc.
• Business Management: Accounting and Financial Analytics, Big Data Analytics, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Data Science, Smart Cities Construction Management, etc.
• Communications and Digital Media: Communication, Health Care Interpretation, Print and Graphic Media Science, Visual Communication Design.
• Computing and Information Sciences: Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science, Big Data Analytics, Bioinformatics, Communication Networks, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Game Design and Development, Web Development, etc.
• Engineering and Engineering Technology: Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Environmental-Health-and Safety Management, Manufacturing Leadership, Microsystems Engineering, Vibrations, Lean Six Sigma, etc.
• Environmental Studies and Sustainability: Environmental Science, Sustainability, Sustainability Systems, Packaging Science, etc.
• Game Design, Development, and Arts: Film and Animation, Game Design and Development, Human-Computer Interaction, Visual Communication Design
• Health Professions and Medical Sciences: Bioinformatics, Biomedical Engineering, Dietetics and Nutrition, Health and Well-Being Management, Medical Illustration, etc.
• Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education: Criminal Justice, Engineering Psychology, Environmental, Health and Safety Management, Environmental Science, Experimental Psychology, Health Care Interpretation, Secondary Education of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Workplace Learning and Instruction, etc.
• Photography, Film, and Animation: Film and Animation, Photography and Related Media
• Science and Math: Applied and Computational Mathematics, Applied Statistics, Color Science, Mathematical Modeling, Physics, Sustainable Systems, etc.

Ph.D and Doctoral Programs

• Astrophysical Sciences and Technology
• Biomedical and Chemical engineering
• Business Administration
• Cognitive Science
• Color Science
• Computing and Information Sciences
• Electrical  and Computer Engineering
• Mathematical Modeling
• Etc.

Tuition and Fees

RIT’s tuition and fees (for 2025–26) are approximately in USD:

Undergraduate (full-time):

Graduate (full-time, 2 semesters):

Per Credit Hour Rate

Graduate students enrolled in less than 12 credits (1 to 11 credits) are charged the per credit hour rate of $2,574.

Scholarships for International Students

• Merit Scholarships:
• RIT automatically considers every applicant (including international) for merit-based scholarships.
• No separate scholarship application is needed. First-year awards range up to $27,000 per year (approximately $108,000 total over 4 years) for outstanding academic achievement.
• Transfer students are similarly eligible for reduced-term awards. These scholarships are renew­able each year based on maintaining eligibility.
• Graduate Scholarships: Some master’s programs offer partial tuition scholarships for strong applicants. Doctoral students may receive more extensive funding.
• (Full tuition scholarships are generally not offered at RIT, except rarely for PhD students.)
• Other Aid: RIT does not require financial-need applications for merit awards, but admitted international students should plan personal funding or loans.
• Many students offset costs by working: over 6,400 RIT students hold on-campus jobs each year to earn income.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Programs Cooperative education, or co-op for short, is a hallmark of an RIT education. Co-op is full-time, paid work experience, which gives you the opportunity to apply what you’re learning in the classroom through meaningful work experience. You’ll alternate blocks of co-op with semesters of on-campus study.

Undergraduate Students: Must be in good academic standing with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. Students are not eligible for co-op after they have completed all their degree requirements. Some majors may require that you complete a year of or more of course work before you begin your first co-op.

Graduate Students: Must be in good academic standing with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and have completed one academic year. Students are not eligible for co-op after they have completed their degree requirements. Exceptions can be made only with departmental approval.

In short, while RIT provides substantial merit aid, it expects students to finance the remaining costs through personal resources or employment.