First-Year Undergraduate Application
Ways to Apply
Statement on Ethical and Fair Admissions Practices
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues to put students first in the admissions process. We continue to use fair and ethical practices as we recruit, review applications and counsel our prospective students and their families. Our admissions officers support and promote ethical responsibility with our colleagues in the admission profession.
Manage Application
Whichever method you choose to apply, we invite you to create an RIT Admissions account to monitor your application, track the status of your application credentials, receive your admissions decision, and more.
Application Timeline
You may submit your fall application starting on August 1. Spring Semester or Summer Term applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
If RIT is your first choice university, there are many benefits to applying with one of our Friendly Early Decision plans. Learn more about Friendly Early Decision Benefits
|
Timeline |
Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Regular Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | November 1st | January 1st | January 15th |
| Recommended FAFSA Submission deadline | November 1st | January 1st | January 15th |
| Decision Notification | Mid-December | Mid-January | Mid-March |
| $500 Deposit Deadline - Pay Deposit | January 15th | February 15th | May 1st |
Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Choose Your Path
When applying to RIT, you have several options on how to start your journey—all that can lead to on-time graduation.
1. Degree Programs
“I know which major I want to apply to.”
Great! Apply directly to your desired major and start relevant coursework right away.
2. College Exploration
“I know which college I’m interested in, but I want to explore a few majors.”
Apply to a College Exploration program. This will give you the opportunity to have a general focus, but take classes within multiple majors.
3. Individualized Study
"I have a lot of interests, but they don't fit neatly inside a single degree program or college."
No problem. The School of Individualized Study can help. You may be able to design a major around your interests, goals, and career aspirations.
What We Look For
Admission to RIT is competitive, but our admissions process is personalized. We assess academic strength, standardized test scores (if you choose to submit them), recommendations, portfolio quality (where applicable), as well as extracurricular activities and personal career interests. Our students come from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
RIT has a history of admitting academically talented students from homeschool settings. In the absence of consistent homeschooling standards nationally and globally, guidelines have been developed for homeschooled students seeking RIT admission.
Degree-Specific Requirements
Academic strengths and requirements vary from one major to another. For example, we would expect students applying to our Computer Science program to have particular strength in mathematics, while students applying to Fine Arts programs would need to show artistic talent through their required portfolios.
Our Holistic Admissions Review Process
While there's no magic formula, there are a few key ways to strengthen your application. In this video, computer engineering major, Yohermry Kpodo, sits down with Assistant Vice President and Dean of Admissions, Marian Nicoletti, to get an inside look at Rochester Institute of Technology's holistic admissions review process.
Honors Program selection and notification is also part of our holistic review process. There is no application to the program as every student is considered during their review.
Application Checklist
Use the list below to make sure you don't miss a step!
-
Complete the Common Application or RIT Application
-
Submit an official high school transcript. Transcripts may be sent electronically or mailed/emailed to RIT Admissions from your high school.
Homeschooled Students - review guidelines developed for homeschooled students in our FAQ section. -
Submit a letter of recommendation.
Recommenders are welcome to email their letters to admissions@rit.edu. -
Provide official or self-reported test results from the SAT or ACT.
For Fall 2023: RIT is "Test Optional" for all undergraduate programs. Applicants may choose whether to report test scores to be considered with their application. SAT/ACT score results will be required for consideration in the RIT/SUNY Upstate Medical University Accelerated Scholars Program. The deadline to apply is November 15. -
International Applicants Only - Students whose native language is not English must submit results of the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic examination. Testing can be self-reported. Frequently Asked Questions for International Applicants
-
An Art Portfolio is required for admission to the School of Art, School of Design and School of Film and Animation.
Test Optional Information
For Fall 2023, RIT is "Test Optional". This means submitting SAT or ACT scores as part of your application is not required. You can choose whether or not you'd like to submit them. It's entirely up to you! On the Common App or RIT Application, you'll have the option to include test scores. If you do not include them as part of your application, RIT will not see your scores (even if you've taken a test).
Wondering how RIT will make admissions decisions without requiring test scores?
RIT will continue to review applications with a holistic approach, taking all of the applicant’s credentials into account. For applicants requesting to be reviewed without test scores, the admissions committee will continue to look at all factors of a student's application including grades earned in academic coursework; performance in honors, IB/AP courses; regents coursework and exams (for NYS residents), essay/personal statement; letters of recommendation, involvement in activities; and other achievements, along with a portfolio for those students applying to one of RIT’s BFA degrees in the Schools of Art, Design, and Film and Animation. In the absence of test scores, more weight will be placed upon the overall grade performance and other items mentioned above.
*SAT/ACT score results will be required for consideration in the RIT/SUNY Upstate Medical University Accelerated Scholars Program. The deadline to apply is November 15.