About Rochester Institute of Technology

Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology. is a Private college. Located in New York, which is a city setting in New York, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 13,384 full time undergraduate students, and 3,123 full time graduate students.

The Rochester Institute of Technology Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 13:1. There are 1023 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Rochester Institute of Technology include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate54%
Application Deadline1-Dec
Application Fee60
SAT Range1140-1330
ACT Range26-31

Admissions at RIT are considered Selective, with ,79% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 13 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

93% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 66% were in the top quarter, and 35% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Rochester Institute of Technology.

8%
“We”re apathetic”
45%
“We know about current events and vote”
46%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
12%
“Sometimes, but not often”
58%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
25%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
26%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
72%
“I feel extremely safe”
43%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
36%
“We bought the gear”
21%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
57%
“They keep regular office hours”
35%
“They”re always available”
12%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
46%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
41%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
24%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
16%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
35%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
1%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
8%
“We”re apathetic”
45%
“We know about current events and vote”
46%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
12%
“Sometimes, but not often”
58%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
25%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
26%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
72%
“I feel extremely safe”
43%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
36%
“We bought the gear”
21%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
13%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
57%
“They keep regular office hours”
35%
“They”re always available”
12%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
46%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
41%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
24%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
16%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
35%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
1%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Rochester Institute of Technology REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    220 Students rated on-campus housing 3.3 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    152 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    239 Students rated campus food 3.5 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    244 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    243 Students rated class size 4.2 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    242 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    241 Students rated local services 4 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    243 Students rated academics 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Rochester Institute of Technology?

83 Students rated Rochester Institute of Technology

William - 03/19/2023

It is an amazing place that I'd both love and plan to attend.

Melissa - 04/08/2021

Academic wise, RIT is overall a great school. The professor I have met are generally good at communicating and are more than willing to answer questions. However, the dorms are very small and there is not a big social or Greek life on campus. If you're typically a social person, or even a little extroverted, I would suggest working hard to find "your group" at RIT or even trying to find friends outside of RIT.

Andrew - 10/29/2020

I have found RIT to be a home away from home for me. I enjoy the freedom of selecting classes, managing my own schedule, and meeting many new people. The academics are challenging, but more importantly, fascinating. I have also taken full advantage of the many opportunity to join clubs. I initially joined 5 thinking that I would pare down after a few weeks, but I can't imagine not continuing with any of them. The only negative thing about RIT is that it is remote, and the nearby amenities are dismal. That being said, the remoteness and isolation (as a campus) makes for an insular environment where you can focus on academics and not worry about the lure of nearby attractions.

Tyler - 10/22/2020

Rochester Institute of Technology is fantastic in terms of academics and campus life. The atmosphere is enhanced by the energetic people on campus and the events that occur at least once a week. While the brick architecture isn't the most appealing, some of the buildings on campus are quite beautiful, and the sculptures scattered around campus provide a bit of artistic aesthetic. RIT is a great place to learn and a great place to make friends while doing so!

Rochester Institute of Technology FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Rochester Institute of Technology?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Rochester Institute of Technology is 54%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I have gotten a fluxuating feeling of confidence from my college experience. I try to bring consistancy to school, because my school does not always offer it. On the other hand, some staff and teachers know that their school has some abnormalities, and from that, a sense of comradery is established. I have learned that good work ethic will make or break a student experience. I have gotten the oppurtunity to help others in their studies, and this in turn gives me motivation to succeed in my own. I can get very depressed if I am not doing well in a course, and I value help from other students, this also helps me to get over whatever pride that I may have. I value the time spent in my area of acedemic intrest, my skills of focus thrive during my time in school. I also consider going to college an investment, and I find myself compairing other investments to it. I I dont think that I will be able to sum up my experience until after I graduate, but as of now, college is the biggest challenge of my life!

    Read all  280 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates in the Industrial Design program are hardworking, focused, competitive but still supportive, good in group projects, fun, diverse, creative, and friendly.

    Read all  113 answers
  4. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    The relationship students have the opportunity to create with major companies from around the globe. Most majors require students to have had a certain amount of co-ops/internships before they graduate. By the time you are ready for graduation, you had a tremdous amount of experience under your belt and helps you pick out what area of interest you have pertaining towards your major. Sometimes co-ops don't work out but also gives the student feedback telling them that maybe the major/field they are in isn't right for them.

    Read all  74 answers
  5. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I enjoy attending RIT. The weather here may seem a little bi-polar, but it is no excuse to miss out on the wonderful and supportive community here. We have a large amount of Deaf students who attend NTID, one of the biggest Deaf colleges in the US. Our tutoring and specialization services are superb, allowing students easy access to educational tools and advice. The best of all, there is FREE printing services in multiple locations, FREE washing and drying services, and a library that is open 24/7 from Monday to Thursday! Night-owls, REJOICE!

    Read all  65 answers
  6. What are the academics like at your school?

    Professors at RIT will go by their first name and many strive to have good relationships with their students. My favorite class was taught in Second Life about Online Advertising. Students at RIT study hard, though some students coasts through. Class participation ranges from tech classes to liberal art classes. RIT students have conversations that many other students can't understand. It is scary sometimes what students discuss. Students at RIT are competitive and team oriented. It is a great place to work as a team. In Advertising & Public Relations students frequently visit their professors and not for class help. The professors in the Department of Communication are very open and willing to chat with students about anything. RIT is a leading career oriented university. Students are required to do co-ops or internships before gradations often allowing students to make real world connections.

    Read all  62 answers
  7. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    RIT is not a tech school. Currently going through an image renovation, RIT is becoming know as a University for Innovation. Though Technology classes make up the majority of the classes, many other classes teach non-tech material. The College of Business and Liberal Arts have the majority of non tech classes. Students who attend RIT don't always use computers either. Some in fact hate the things and do terrible in classes that require them. Most of these students however do not attend tech classes. RIT is know as the Brick City, which is an accurate stereotype. Some opinions state that the university is unattractive, but that is up for debate. Most student stereotypes are partially accurate, depending on what area of RIT you are in. While there are few females in the technical colleges, many students in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Business and the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences are in fact females. There are many deaf students at RIT and American Sign Language is like a second language here. However, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) make up a small percentage of students at RIT. Students with pale skin, severe acne and tendencies to avoid social situations do exist, but most students are outgoing, outspoken while still attending technical classes. The term "nerd" and "geek" is not an insult at RIT and in some cases it is a compliment.

    Read all  61 answers
  8. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    were all nerds and we sit in front of the computer 98{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of our free time

    Read all  61 answers
  9. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    At RIT the College Activities Board (CAB) is a very popular organization. They are know for putting on shows featuring Bob Dylan and Jimmy Eat World. The Public Relations Student Society of America is very new at RIT and is working on starting a student run firm this spring. RIT hockey is huge and more alive than ever. Recently, Apple's Steve Wozniak came to speak and enjoyed a large turn out. Apple computers are common on RIT campus. The dating scene is alive and well, even with geeks and nerds. Students also date outside of their ethnicity which is nice. If students are awake at 2 am on Tuesday night, there are likely writing papers due on Wednesday. The highly anticipated Innovation and Creativity Festival this spring is going to be huge and really put RIT on the map as a University for Innovation. Last weekend my team mates met to finish out final project for this quarter. After presenting the project, our team met our professors at the local pub to celebrate. Many activities can be found at night that don't involve drinking. There are late night sports and games, and many students socialize at the campus coffee shop. RIT is currently a dry campus, too.

    Read all  59 answers
  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    The Rochester Institute of Technology is challenging, supportive, creative, large, comfortable, and exetremely focused on academics whether you are an artist or an engineer.

    Read all  58 answers
  11. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about RIT is the wind. The way they designed the school is so that it creates wind tumbles which makes things so much worse compared to the weather off campus. It is already cold in Rochester and the wind makes it even worse, especially when it is snowing. RIT is also bad at getting rid of the snow on the quarter mile, the way we all get to class. So you have to fight against the wind while trying not to slip from the slush and snow.

    Read all  53 answers
  12. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had know more about my program (Psychology) before I came to RIT. It's not that I don't love the program, I just would have been better able to plan out my classes better if I had done more research.

    Read all  45 answers
  13. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing about my school is the resources for deciding what career you want. RIT is extremely career focused but that can actually harm students who are not entirely sure what they want to do with their lives. It would be nice to have more resources to explore more career options.

    Read all  45 answers
  14. What's unique about your campus?

    Rochester Institute of Technology has a great focus on careers and career goals, with an emphasis on innovation and new ideas. Their co-op and internship programs help students to gain valuable experience in different career fields within their majors and prepare them for life after graduation.

    Read all  44 answers
  15. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    RIT tries very hard to make sure you are able to get internships with companies so that you're better prepared for the workforce.

    Read all  41 answers
  16. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Overall I feel that the person that should attend this school is someone that wants to work hard for their degree and maintain a social life as well. I feel that RIT is well balanced at providing a stimulating learning environment as well as a fun and reasonable social environment as well. There are plenty of fraternities and sororities therefore there is a strong greek environment as well.

    Read all  40 answers
  17. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Our great game design program and smart engineers! Also, our huge group of deaf people.

    Read all  35 answers
  18. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    A person that loves to be social

    Read all  35 answers
  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    That every student is an engineering nerd

    Read all  12 answers
  20. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    I wanted a school known for its rigorous and efficient engineering curriculum

    Read all  4 answers
  21. Tell us about the sports scene on campus.

    Hockey is our one big sport on campus.

    Read all  2 answers

Student Body

Students

33%

female

67%

male

13,384

Total Undergrad Enrollment

3,123

Total Grad Students

46%

Out-Of-State

48%

In-State

6%

International

Organizations

202

Student Organizations

17

Fraternities

12

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

44%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
8%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
63%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

96% of students attending Rochester Institute of Technology receive some sort of financial aid. 32% were awarded federal grants. While 69% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$38,568

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,050

Books and Supplies

$12,500

Room and Board

52,118

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$23,036
$30 - $48K
$23,114
$48 - $75K
$23,874
$75 - $110K
$25,082
$110K & UP
$34,694

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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