RIT/NTID Merit-Based Scholarships

NTID President’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence
Recipients are selected based on their academic records, recommendations, activities, and the requirements for their academic program. Renewable.
NTID Academic Excellence Scholarship
Recipients are chosen on the strength of their overall application materials: grade-point average, SAT/ACT scores, activities, and recommendations. Renewable.
NTID Associate + Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship.
Recipients are those who are admitted into an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree program and are chosen on the basis of their grade-point average, SAT/ACT scores, activities, and recommendations Renewable.
RIT Performing Arts Scholarship
Recognizes individual achievement and talent in the performing arts. Regardless of major, all full-time admitted freshman undergraduates are eligible for consideration. Scholarship may be received in addition to other RIT scholarships.
RIT/NTID Alumni Referral Award
The scholarship is awarded to students who are referred for admission to RIT/NTID by an alumnus/alumna of the university. Award may be received in addition to other RIT/NTID scholarships.

Please note: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students accepted into an associate or bachelor's degree program and students accepted into the ASL-English interpretation program will receive the prorated amount of $500/year to reflect the lower tuition rate these students pay.
Merit-based scholarships for students accepted directly to RIT bachelor’s degree programs. (The scholarship awards will be prorated to reflect lower tuition rate for deaf and hard-of-hearing students).
 
 
RIT National Merit Scholarship/RIT NMSC Recognition Award
Awarded to admitted freshmen who are National Merit Scholar finalists and name RIT as their 1st choice school for NMSC
RIT National Hispanic Scholar Award
Awarded to admitted freshmen who are recognized by the College Board as National Hispanic Recognition Scholars.
RIT Presidential Scholarships
Awarded to a select number of entering freshmen. Recipients demonstrate exceptional academic performance; receive exemplary letters of recommendation as well as strong entrance exam scores.
RIT Founders Scholarships
Named to recognize the founders of RIT and its forerunners, Founders Scholarships are awarded to admitted freshmen who are outstanding academically, are active and involved in their schools or community, or demonstrate special talents or abilities. Consideration may also be given to outstanding leadership, service, entrepreneurship, citizenship, or creativity. Portfolio evaluations or other evidence of creative excellence will also be considered for applicants to art, crafts, design, film, and photography programs.
In addition to the award criteria listed above, the following merit-based scholarships have specific selection criteria and/or application procedures.
 
 
RIT National Merit Scholarship/RIT NMSC Recognition Award
Awarded to admitted freshmen who are National Merit Scholar finalists and name RIT as their 1st choice school for NMSC.
RIT National Hispanic Scholar Award
Awarded to admitted freshmen who are recognized by the College Board as National Hispanic Recognition Scholars.
RIT/FIRST Robotics Scholarships
Awarded to outstanding admitted freshman applicants who have participated on a high school FIRST team.
RIT Project Lead The Way Scholarships
Awarded to outstanding admitted freshmen who have completed two or more PLTW courses.
RIT Hillside Scholarships
Awarded to admitted freshman students to recognize outstanding graduates of the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program. Recipients are identified based on involvement in the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program.
RIT Computing Medal Scholarships
Award recipients nominated by their high schools who are admitted and enroll at RIT in the fall immediately following graduation from high school.
RIT Innovation   Creativity Award Scholarships
Award recipients nominated by their high schools who are admitted and enroll at RIT in the fall immediately following graduation from high school.
Merit-based scholarships for transfer students accepted directly to RIT bachelor’s degree programs. (The scholarship awards will be prorated to reflect lower tuition rate for deaf and hard-of-hearing students).
 
 
RIT Trustee Scholarships for Transfer Students
Awarded to incoming full-time transfer students with an exceptional academic record.
RIT Founders Scholarships for Transfer Students
Awarded to incoming full-time transfer students with an exceptional academic record.
RIT Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships for Transfer Students
Awarded to transfer students with an associate degree elected to Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Every student who applies to RIT/NTID is considered for our merit-based scholarships.

In addition, there are other scholarship opportunities that may require additional applications to be combined with a merit-based scholarship.

NTID Merit-Based Scholarships

All admitted incoming students are reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee to determine if they qualify for standard RIT merit-based scholarships.

No separate application is required and demonstrated financial need is not considered when selecting recipients.

  • Merit-based scholarships are competitive and are offered in recognition of exceptional or outstanding academic achievement.
  • Consideration may also be given to outstanding leadership, service, entrepreneurship, citizenship, or creativity. Portfolio evaluations or other evidence of creative excellence will also be considered for applicants to art, crafts, design, film, and photography programs.
  • To receive full consideration, applicants for fall entry must apply by applicable deadlines. Students who meet the eligibility requirements for multiple RIT merit-based scholarships will be offered the highest-valued scholarship unless the indicated scholarships can be combined.
  • Scholarships offered by RIT are prorated for NTID-sponsored students enrolled in RIT bachelor degree programs to reflect the lower tuition rates.

Did you know?

Deaf and hard-of-hearing and hearing NTID-supported students pay less than one-half of RIT's tuition. Students can receive scholarships in addition to the reduced rate.

RIT/NTID receives support from the federal government, and as a result, deaf and hard-of-hearing students enrolled in any degree program as well as hearing students enrolled in the ASL-English Interpretation program pay less than RIT’s tuition rate. Visit the “Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing and Hearing NTID-Supported Students” section of Tuition and Fees for details.

Additional Scholarships

In addition to the award criteria listed above, the undergraduate scholarships shown below have specific selection criteria and/or application procedures. Some of these additional scholarships are only applicable to first-year students and others may only be applicable to transfer students.

= indicates that the scholarship is stackable. A stackable scholarship can be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships to increase the total scholarship funding.

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Eligibility

Offered to admitted first-year and transfer students who are referred for admission to RIT by an alumnus/alumna of the university. 

How to be referred

An alumnus/alumna must refer a student for the RIT Alumni Referral Award. Referral forms must be received by the Office of Admission by the application deadline for the student's selected admission program. 

Nominations submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Scholarship dollars cannot be granted retroactively for this program.

Additional Information 

$500 per year ($250 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Offered to outstanding, admitted first-year students who have participated on a high school FIRST team.

How to apply

Complete and submit the scholarship application at rit.edu/first-scholarship.

Must apply for admission to RIT by January 15 to be considered.

Additional Information

$2,500 per year ($1,250 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework.

Renewable.

This scholarship is not stackable. It cannot be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Offered to admitted first-year students who have distinguished themselves academically, and demonstrate ability in a designated content area.

The categories include: 

  • Art and Design
  • Business and Leadership
  • Computing
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Science and Math
  • Women in STEM
How to be referred

Recipients have to be nominated by their high schools in their junior year.

Additional Information

$4,000 per year ($2,000 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework.

Nominees have to be admitted and enrolled at RIT in the fall immediately following graduation from high school.

Renewable.

This scholarship is not stackable. It cannot be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility
Offered to outstanding, admitted first-year and transfer students who are graduates of the Hillside Work Scholarship Connection Program.
 
 
 
Additional Information

$2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework.

Recipients are identified based on involvement in the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program.

Must apply for admission to RIT by January 15 to be considered.

Renewable.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Offered to admitted first-year students who are National Merit Scholarship finalists and name RIT as their first choice school for NMSC.

Additional Information

$2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework. RIT will receive finalist confirmation from NMSC.

Renewable as long as student meets NMSC guidelines.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Offered to admitted high-performing, underrepresented, first-year students who are recognized by the College Board.  The five national recognition programs include the National African-American Recognition Program, the National First-Generation Recognition Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, the National Indigenous Recognition Program and the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.

Additional Information

$2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework. 

RIT receives confirmation of eligibility from the College Board NHRS program.  For consideration, students can also submit a copy of their College Board certificate to the RIT Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships' secure document upload.   

Renewable.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Recognizes individual achievement and talent in the performing arts. Regardless of major, all full-time admitted first-year and transfer undergraduates are eligible for consideration. 

Learn more about our Performing Arts programs

How to apply

First-year and transfer applicants to RIT are eligible to apply for the Performing Arts Scholarship, regardless of intended major.

The application consists of a series of questions regarding your performing arts experiences and goals, and a place to provide performance examples via YouTube or Vimeo. 

Application Deadlines

Students should apply by the following deadlines for best consideration for the program, however, applications received after the deadline will still be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Fall Entry

 Performing Arts Deadline
First-year (incl. Early Decision I or II, Early Action, Regular Decision) and transfer students January 15 Extended to April 15

Spring Entry

 Performing Arts Deadline
First-year and transfer students November 1

Use the link below to begin. An authenticated login is required. Use your RIT application account login credentials.

Apply

Additional Information

Amounts vary.

Renewable each year you are involved in performing arts at RIT.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility
Offered to outstanding, admitted first-year students who have completed two or more PLTW (Project Lead the Way) courses.
 
 
 
Additional Information

$2,500 per year ($1,250 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework. 

Must apply for admission to RIT by January 15 to be considered.

Up to 20 are awarded each year.

Renewable.

This scholarship is not stackable. It cannot be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Eligibility

Offered to admitted transfer students with an associate degree who were elected to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK). 

Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.

Additional Information

$1,500 per year ($750 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework.

Renewable

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

How to Apply

Proof of PTK membership must be submitted with transfer application. 

Eligibility

Offered to admitted first-year students who have been recognized as Urban League Black Scholars.

Additional Information

Applicants for admission will automatically be considered. Must apply for admission to RIT by January 15 to be considered.

$500 per year ($250 per semester) of full-time enrollment in required coursework. Renewable.

This scholarship is stackable. It may be combined with other RIT merit-based scholarships.

Veteran and Military Benefits

Eligibility

Eligibility depends on veteran benefit being sought.

Additional Information

Contact the Office of Veteran Student Success.

Can cover up to full cost of attendance depending on program and other aid sources.