Early Decision

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Early Decision

Act Sooner. Know Earlier.

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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 early notification of your financial aid offer

You’ll receive your full financial aid offer from RIT before submitting your enrollment deposit so that you have all the facts before you make your college decision.

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.

Start Your Application

Early Decision Application Deadlines

Early Decision I

Application Deadline

November 1

Recommended FAFSA Submission Deadline

November 1

Decision Notification

Mid-December

Deposit Deadline

January 15

Early Decision II

Application Deadline

January 1

Recommended FAFSA Submission Deadline

January 1

Decision Notification

Mid-January

Deposit Deadline

February 15

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

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.

You’re automatically considered for merit-based aid

Admitted Early Decision applicants will automatically be reviewed for merit-based scholarships and those who file a FAFSA, will be reviewed for need-based financial aid prior to the enrollment deposit deadline.

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.

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.

We're Here to Help

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

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

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.