Early Decision

Act Sooner. Know Earlier.

If RIT is your 1st choice university, apply Early Decision to bring some certainty to your plans.



Get notified sooner in the admissions process

You’ll be notified in advance of Regular Decision applicants. While Early Decision is binding, students hear about their decision and get the necessary information about affordability, prior to making a final commitment to RIT.


Receive automatic consideration for merit scholarships and a financial aid estimate

You’ll receive a financial aid estimate from RIT before submitting your enrollment deposit so that you have all the information you need to make your college decision. Learn more


Stand out from the crowd

Admission acceptance rates tend to be higher in Early Decision since there is a smaller pool of applicants.


Change your mind? Our early decision plans are friendly.

If you apply for Early Decision and determine we are not affordable, you can request to be moved from the Early Decision plan.

Early Decision Application Deadlines

Early Decision I


Application Deadline

November 1

Recommended RIT Financial Aid Application Deadline

December 1

Decision Notification

Mid-December

Deposit Deadline

January 15

Recommended FAFSA Submission Deadline

March 1

Early Decision II


Application Deadline

January 1

Recommended RIT Financial Aid Application Deadline

January 1

Decision Notification

Mid-January

Deposit Deadline

February 15

Recommended FAFSA Submission Deadline

March 1

Jake Korner headshot

"Since RIT was my number one school, the choice to apply for Early Decision was an easy one for me. It meant that I could stand out among other applicants, showing the school I had a desire to be in their program at one of the top schools in the country. Once I had my Early Decision acceptance, the stress and worry of where I’d be going to college was over, and I could enjoy the rest of my senior year. Some of my high school friends were worried if they’d be accepted at the school of their choice, and had to wait to find out.

But the best thing was there were no surprises—my parents and I knew about my financial aid offer and scholarships before my deposit was due. I knew with confidence that my Early Decision application to RIT was the best decision I could have made!"

Jake Koerner
Exercise Science Major

Receiving an Early Decision Aid Estimate

  1. You’re automatically considered for merit-based aid.

    Admitted Early Decision applicants will automatically be reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Those who file an Early Decision Financial Aid Application, will also be reviewed for need-based financial aid prior to the enrollment deposit deadline.
  2. Early Decision applicants interested in need-based funding from RIT can receive an estimated financial aid offer prior to submitting their enrollment deposit.

    To receive an estimated financial aid offer, applicants are required to submit RIT’s Early Decision Financial Aid Application by December 1 for Early Decision I applicants and by January 1 for Early Decision II applicants. Early Decision students will receive their estimated financial aid offer shortly after they are admitted and the application is received. RIT’s Early Decision Financial Aid Application is available for applicants to complete in their admissions portal.

    Starting this year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will undergo changes that will significantly simplify how students, parents, and other educational stakeholders use the FAFSA. The new FAFSA should be available in late December 2023. In order to confirm the estimated financial aid offer, all early decision students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, 2024. Students will then receive their official financial aid offer. In most cases if the information on the FAFSA and Early Decision Financial Aid Application is similar, aid eligibility will remain the same. In exceptional cases where the information is not similar, differences will be indicated.

Early Decision Financial Aid Application

Log in using your application credentials

Your family is encouraged to work with your assigned Financial Aid Counselor to assist you through the financial aid process. If you and your family determine that RIT is not an affordable choice, you should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office so you may be released from the Early Decision plan.

Our Early Decision Policy

Early Decision plans differ from school to school so it is important to understand the differences before you make a decision on how to apply.


Our early decision plans are “friendly”

While they are binding, you can change your application from Early Decision to Regular Decision or vice versa. For example, if your top choice school changes, you can change which applicant pool at RIT you’d like to be considered for.


Upon committing to RIT, you’ll need to withdraw other applications

Once you decide to accept RIT’s offer of admission, you should submit your $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit on or before the deadline to confirm your intention to enroll. At this time, you will be expected to withdraw your applications with all other colleges/universities.


If you’re not accepted through Early Decision or to your first choice program, there are other options

If you are not accepted through Early Decision, in most cases, you will be asked to submit mid-year senior grades and will be reviewed a second time with applicants in the Regular Decision plan. Early Decision applicants who are accepted to an alternate (second or third-choice) program of study may request to be released from the conditions of Early Decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may switch from Regular Decision to Early Decision as long as the deadline for the early decision plan you intend to switch to has not passed.

While the timelines to apply and commit are different, the other benefits and policies are the same. Early Decision II applicants typically select this option because they discover RIT is their top choice university after the November 1 deadline for Early Decision I has passed. 

Early Decision I applicants are notified by mid-December. Early Decision II applicants are notified by mid-January.

RIT is only able to provide an estimate of financial aid based on the information you provide in the RIT Early Decision Financial Aid Application. The FAFSA provides the final Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine financial need.

Families who wish to be considered for need-based financial aid will need to complete the FAFSA, even if they already completed the RIT Financial Aid Application.

We're Here to Help

Student sitting with faculty member chatting

If you have questions or would like to request more information, get in touch.

  585-475-6631
  admissions@rit.edu
  Find Your Admissions Counselor