Freshman enrollment sets a record -- again

RIT once again has broken a record for the largest freshman class, with more than 2,350 first-year students in 2000-2001. This is the fourth year in a row for record-setting freshman enrollment.

Competition for spots in the entering class was more intense this year, and the academic qualifications and diversity of admitted and enrolled students improved to new record levels as a result. The freshman class comes in with a high school grade point average of 90 percent, and the average SAT score (verbal plus math) is above 1200 for the first time.

Other statistics about RIT's new freshmen: 27 percent of the students ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and 50 percent ranked in the top fifth of their class. Nearly half of the first-year students are from outside New York state.

"RIT achieved a record number of applications for admission this year," says James Miller, vice president, Enrollment Management and Career Services. A total of 11,430 undergraduate applications were received, including 8,270 freshman applications, up 10 percent over last year.

"All of the university's seven colleges experienced an increase in applications, and we had especially strong interest in our computer science, information technology, engineering, art and photography programs," Miller says. "It's an outstanding class in terms of academic strength and diversity, and clearly reflects RIT's continued emergence as a university that is recognized both nationally and internationally."