Estimate Graduate Education Costs

Graduate education costs vary by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, delivery method, and more.

The majority of degrees can be estimated using the formulas below, however, there are some exceptions:

  • Students in designated online programs, deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and hearing NTID-supported students pay a lower graduate tuition rate. View tuition and fees and contact your admissions counselor for details.
  • Ph.D. students typically receive full tuition and an RIT Graduate Assistantship that will pay a stipend for the academic year. Contact your admissions counselor for more information.

Master's and Advanced Certificate Students

Use the resources on this page to understand your graduate education cost of attendance.

Start estimating your tuition

Online Students

Tuition varies for online degree programs. View online degree rates and contact your online admissions counselor for details.  

Contact your online admissions counselor

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students typically receive full tuition and an RIT Graduate Assistantship that will pay a stipend for the academic year. Contact your Ph.D. admissions counselor for more information.

Contact your admissions counselor

What Factors into the Cost of Attendance?

Tuition and Fees

Graduate tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is billed:

  • at $2,463 per credit hour when enrolled in fewer than 12 credits per semester
  • at a fixed rate of $29,551 when enrolled for 12-18 credits per semester

The number of credits taken per semester varies by degree. Students registered for 9 or more credits per semester are considered full-time students and are billed a student activity fee ($200/semester) and a student health services fee ($275/semester). RIT offers graduate students a comprehensive, global health insurance policy. International students are automatically enrolled and billed each semester; enrollment is voluntary for domestic students (US citizens).

Additional Factors that Affect the Cost of Attendance 

Additional expenses are comprised of:

  • estimated living expenses (housing and meals): $16,142 per year
  • estimated transportation, books, supplies, and personal expenses: $3,016 per year

These vary by student and are usually not billed by RIT, unless a student resides in on-campus housing and/or purchases an RIT Dining meal plan.

RIT may award a scholarship to you to reduce tuition. You are considered for merit-based scholarships when you apply for admission; no separate application is required. Scholarships are awarded as a percentage of tuition. The dollar amount of the scholarship will adjust based on the actual credit hours you enroll per semester. Please refer to the examples below.

RIT Graduate Assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. The compensation varies depending on the assistantship type and could be a set dollar amount per semester based on an hourly wage.

How to Estimate Your Tuition

The number of credits taken each semester determines how tuition is billed.

Follow these instructions to determine credits by degree and then estimate one semester tuition or the entire degree tuition.

  • 1. Each degree recommends a certain number of credits to be taken per semester. Identify if your degree recommends up to 11 credits per semester or 12-18 credits per semester by searching for your degree below.

 

  • 2. Once you know the credits per semester and degree, you can estimate tuition per semester and/or the total degree tuition. Use the formula that corresponds with the number of credits to calculate the estimated tuition.

Contact us if you have questions or need help.

Important Notes:

  • These formulas provide estimates only. Each student's situation can vary in schedule, time to degree completion, and prerequisites.
  • This estimate is based on the current year’s tuition and does not include fees and expenses. Typically, tuition rates increase 3-5% each academic year. A 30% scholarship is provided as an example only. Scholarships are not guaranteed.

Estimate Tuition per Semester

  • Read the instructions, then use the applicable formula below to estimate your tuition for one semester. 
  • You may have additional factors to consider in your graduate education costs. Review the tuition estimate notes.

Degrees up to 11 credits per semester

Formula

Tuition per semester = credits per semester x per credit hour rate. Any scholarships are deducted, resulting in net tuition per semester.

Example

Degree Computer Science MS
Credits per semester 9
Per credit hour rate  $2,463
Tuition per semester 9 x $2,463 = $22,167
 30% scholarship $22,167 x .30 = $6,650

Net tuition per semester

$15,517

Degrees with 12-18 credits per semester

Formula

Tuition per semester = fixed rate per semester. Any scholarships are deducted, resulting in net tuition per semester.

Example

Degree Business Administration MBA
Credits per semester 12
Fixed rate per semester  $29,551
Tuition per semester $29,551
 30% scholarship $29,551 x .30 = $8,865

Net tuition per semester

$20,686

Estimate Total Degree Tuition

  • Read the instructions, then use the applicable formula below to estimate your total degree tuition. 
  • You may have additional factors to consider in your graduate education costs. Review the tuition estimate notes.

Degrees up to 11 credits per semester

Formula

Degree tuition = credits required to complete the degree x per credit hour rate. Any scholarships are deducted, resulting in net degree tuition. 

Example

Degree Computer Science MS
Credits per semester 9
Credits to complete the degree 30
Per credit hour rate  $2,463
Degree tuition 30 x $2,463 = $73,890
 30% scholarship $73,890 x .30 = $22,167

Net degree tuition

$51,723

Degrees with 12-18 credits per semester

Formula

Degree tuition = the number of semesters to complete the degree (credits to complete the degree / credits per semester) x fixed rate per semester. Any scholarships are deducted, resulting in net degree tuition.

Example

Degree Business Administration MBA
Credits per semester 12
Credits to complete the degree 48
Fixed rate per semester  $29,551
Semesters to completion 48 / 12 = 4
Degree tuition  4 x $29,551 = $118,204
 30% scholarship $118,204 x .30 = $35,461

Net degree tuition

$82,743

Tuition Estimate Notes

 

Changes in semester credit hours

It is possible that during the course of a student's study they may move from being charged on a “per-credit-hour” basis to the fixed rate, or vice versa, if the student takes 3 courses (9 credits) or fewer in one semester, then 4 or more courses (12+ credits) in another. 

Bridge or pre-requisite courses

Bridge or pre-requisite courses may be required by a department as a condition of admission to a degree program. Bridge or pre-requisite courses may add additional credit hours and costs. Academic courses assigned as pre-requisites or bridge courses are charged at the per credit hour rate.

 

English language courses

All graduate students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores for an international test of English (TOEFL, IELTS, or the PTE Academic). Those who do not meet the requirements set by the graduate department to which they apply will be admitted contingent upon their taking English language courses in addition to their academic program. RIT scholarship funding is not applied to the charges associated with English Language Center courses. View English language course tuition

No fees or tuition while on co-op

Neither tuition nor fees are charged while you are on co-op.

Online students

Tuition for online degree programs vary. Students pursuing an online degree should visit their degree program page for more details about online degrees and tuition costs. 

Degree Requiring Up to 11 Credits per Semester

Example Degree

Computer Science MS

Degree: Computer Science MS
Total credit hours required to complete the program: 30 
Credits per semester: 9
Per credit hour rate: $2,171

Estimate One Semester Tuition

Formula

Credits required per semester Per credit hour rate Tuition per semester

Example Equation

Tuition per semester 9 x $2,171 = $19,539
 30% scholarship $19,539 x .30 = $5,862

Net tuition per semester

$13,677

Estimate Entire Degree Tuition

Formula

Total credit hours required to complete the program
Per credit hour rate
= Estimated degree tuition

Equation

Total degree tuition 30 x $2,171 = $65,130
30% scholarship $65,130 x .30 =  $19,539

Estimated net degree tuition

$45,591

The information, formulas, and examples provided on this page are designed to collectively help you estimate your graduate education tuition. The information should be read in its entirety in order to calculate the closest estimate to your tuition. The only way you will know for certain what it costs to attend RIT is by applying for admission and receiving official notification of your admission, any financial aid you are awarded, and any prerequisites required.

The scholarship amounts and percentages provided are examples only and must not be interpreted as the actual scholarship amount you may receive if admitted to RIT. Any financial aid offer will be determined by the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Office of Graduate Admissions once credentials have been evaluated.