Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

We're welcoming families to campus for in-person campus tours, interviews/conversations, and information sessions. Learn all the ways you can experience RIT

We offer multiple opportunities to visit campus both virtually and in person. Learn more

While our admissions teams don’t currently offer major-specific tours, we’re happy to help arrange meetings with academic departments, which can often include facility tours. To set this up, please reach out either our Undergraduate Admissions team.

Absolutely! You can get a feel for campus anytime by watching our Campus Tour video. Want to explore even more? Visit our Experience RIT page to discover interactive resources, student stories, and all the ways you can connect with RIT virtually.

You can schedule a campus visit, available six days a week, and request a one-on-one academic meeting.

To cancel a scheduled visit or event registration, email to admissions@rit.edu or call 585-475-6631.

RIT's Admissions tours are typically 60-75 minutes. Schedule a campus visit today!

The preferred application deadline for first-year students for Fall 2026 has passed, but applications will continue to be reviewed on a space available basis. Applications for transfer students are still being considered on a rolling basis for the Fall semester that will begin in August. Merit scholarships and financial aid are still available for all terms. 

RIT has a test-optional admissions policy for SAT/ACT scores. Students applying to STEM programs who are planning to submit scores are encouraged to include the optional ACT Science section. RIT will superscore the SAT and/or ACT if multiple test score results are provided.

The Admissions Committee will be understanding of academic disruption caused by the pandemic.  Applicants will not be disadvantaged by “pass” grades on transcripts or cancelled Regents Exams.

Log into your admissions portal (which you created when you applied for admission) to check on your status.

Yes, RIT's Early Decision policy is binding. We're committed to ensuring that RIT is the right fit for you, both academically and financially. Once you accept our offer and pay your enrollment deposit, you should withdraw your applications from other colleges.

Portfolios can be submitted electronically through your RIT Admissions Portal account once your application has been submitted or mailed to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Yes, late applications are accepted and reviewed on a space-available basis for each major. If you plan to apply after the deadline, we recommend submitting your FAFSA as soon as possible to ensure timely processing of your financial aid offer.

Possibly. If you are unable to attend RIT in the term you were admitted, you may request a deferral to a future term. To ask about deferring your enrollment, reach out directly to Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@rit.edu or 585-475-6631

Generally, the application fee is nonrefundable. However, if you believe your situation warrants further consideration, contact the Undergraduate Admissions team by email or phone.

Yes. If you applied via the Common App and the letter hasn't been submitted yet, you can remove them directly in your Common App dashboard. For letters that have already been sent or for applications submitted through RIT's portal, email admissions@rit.edu to request a change to your application file.

No, acceptance letters for to first-year and transfer admitted students are accessible electronically in their admissions application portal page.

If you've taken a break from RIT and would like to start taking classes again, you might need to reapply for admission. It depends on how long you were away and where you were in your degree program. It is best to contact your academic department and as needed, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to determine whether or not you need to reapply.

Your school counselor will need to submit official transcripts to RIT for admission on your behalf.

Yes. You must submit an original essay on a topic outlined in the Common Application or the RIT Application. No supplemental essays are required unless you are applying to the Honors Program or an Individualized Program BS, which has a supplemental essay requirement.

Yes, we do accept the Common Application for undergraduate first-year and transfer admissions.

The application fee is $65 and nonrefundable. We offer application fee waivers for US active duty military or veterans, and students facing financial hardship. 

Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office at admissions@rit.edu or 585-475-6631 if you have questions on application fee waivers.

You can officially decline your offer directly online. Simply log into your RIT Admissions Portal, navigate to your Admissions Reply Form, and select Decline Admission.

You can find average standardized test scores and GPAs for admitted students to RIT in our Academic Profile. 

RIT is Test Optional. This means submitting SAT or ACT scores as part of your application is not required. We assess academic strength, standardized test scores (if you choose to take them), recommendations, portfolio quality (where applicable), as well as extracurricular activities and personal career interests. Learn more on our How to Apply page.

You can use CollegeBoard's CEEB search tool to find your school's CEEB code.

RIT's CEEB code or ID is 2760.

If you will not be taking 4 or more college courses during your deferral (gap) year or semester, then your scholarship award will remain the same. A FAFSA submission is required again for need-based financial aid consideration, but if your financial situation remains similar, you can expect a similar financial aid offer next year.

If you are enrolling at another college for a year, this is not considered a deferral and you will need to be reconsidered for admission, scholarship and financial aid as a transfer student.

In late-July, academic departments register students for fall term classes. You will be notified when your preliminary schedule is available to view in the Student Information System (SIS) with your RIT Account and password.  Please be aware that as official Advanced Placement (AP) scores, official college transcripts, and RIT placement test scores are received, schedules will be adjusted accordingly. Learn more on the Course Registration webpage

Students beginning in the spring semester should complete their residence hall contract no later than January 2nd.  For fall semester students, it is strongly recommended you complete your residence hall contract by May 1.  Additional details can be found on MyLife.

You will need to complete student health forms and send us your final high school transcript over the summer. Find complete information about next steps

The math placement exam (MPE) is used to place BS (Bachelor of Science) students in the appropriate initial mathematics and or statistics course(s).  Spring enrollees will be contacted by your academic advisor.  For fall semester students, please find more MPE information here.

You will be contacted by your academic advisor. Find more information

Enrollment Verifications are provided by the Registrar's Office.

Only students who took a modern language in high school and plan to continue studying the same language at RIT need to take the Language Placement Exam (LPE).

You can find your University ID (UID ) number in the eServices portal.

RIT is pleased to review your AP coursework for possible transfer credit. You do not need official score reports to submit your application, but to enroll, we must receive official score reports directly from the College Board to award you credit and finalize your enrollment. An exam score of 3 or higher is necessary to be considered for credit. In many cases, however, a minimum score of 4 is required to obtain credit for specific college courses. Each department will determine the specific amount of credit to be awarded. View the AP Credit Policy

RIT highly values IB level coursework. IB Diploma recipients offered admission to RIT will receive a special IB Diploma Scholarship from RIT. Credit may be awarded for higher level examinations completed with a score of 5 or higher. Credit is awarded on a course-by-course basis and in the context of the student’s intended program at RIT. Each department will determine the specific amount of credit to be awarded. Students are requested to forward IB transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. View the IB Credit Policy

Transfer credit will be considered for relevant coursework where a grade of C or better was earned at a regionally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted and will be reviewed on a course-by-course basis. RIT also reviews work performed in courses and training programs evaluated by the American Council on Education (e.g., CLEP, DANTES, etc.). Each department will determine the specific amount of credit to be awarded. A partial database of currently established transfer credit rules from various universities and colleges is available.

A Level results are reviewed on an individual basis for RIT credit. Please email admissions@rit.edu if you would like to receive credit for A Level results.

We allow the submission of unofficial transcripts for the initial application review for transfer students. This helps us get you an admission decision sooner. Official transcripts will be required to receive a transfer credit evaluation and to enroll.

While an official English translation is required, a third-party evaluation from WES or ECE is generally not required for your application. However, if our Registrar’s office needs further clarification on your coursework, they may reach out to request one. Providing an evaluation voluntarily can often make the credit transfer process smoother and faster.

You can browse our Transfer Credit Equivalency Database to see how courses from other institutions have transferred in the past.

Note: If your current university is not listed, it does not mean we won’t accept your credits. It simply means we haven't evaluated that specific school yet. Any courses not in the database will be evaluated for transfer credit upon acceptance to RIT

The timeline varies so we recommend submitting your official documents as early as possible.

It generally takes longer for international students credit evaluation than for domestic students due to the complexity of reviewing global curricula.

Review the Office of the Registrar page on receiving your transcript.

In consideration of the alternate grading options being offered at many institutions of higher education in response to the pandemic, RIT will award transfer credit for any coursework taken between Spring 2020-Summer 2021 that is graded with a C or higher, Pass, or Satisfactory (or it's equivalent) grade from other regionally accredited colleges or universities and specific armed services course work. RIT will award credit for all Pass and Satisfactory grades regardless of the external school's determination of equivalent letter grades.

RIT offers over 100 minors and 90 immersions spanning technology, liberal arts, business, science, and the arts.

Immersions: A required 3-course series in a focused area outside your major, designed to broaden your perspective.

Minors: A 5-course secondary focus that lets you gain deeper expertise. (In most cases, the 3 courses from your immersion can be applied directly toward a minor in that same subject!).

You are welcome to appeal your financial aid offer to see if RIT can offer additional funding. Once your appeal is received, it will be forwarded to our Appeal Committee for review. You will receive an email via your RIT Admissions portal within 3-5 business days to notify you of the outcome of your request.

Additionally, alternative educational loans are private loans (non-federal) offered through banks. You may borrow through any lender of your choice as RIT does not maintain a preferred lender list. It is highly recommended to take time to research all alternative loan options and determine which one will best meet your needs. However, we realize that finding a lender may seem overwhelming, so in addition to using general internet search engines, RIT provides a list of some of the lenders that we have used in prior aid years, based on the highest dollar volume and number of loans certified by RIT. For more information about points to consider as you investigate loan options, review Alternative Educational Loans. 

Contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn more about the appeal process.

RIT offers a payment plan where a semester bill can be spread out over a 4 month period. There is a $42 fee for this service and you can find more information from Student Financial Services.

Yes. RIT will continue to review all students for merit scholarships regardless if they have submitted test scores.

Yes, you absolutely still have options! While many traditional U.S. lenders do require a domestic co-signer, we have verified that the following do not require a U.S. co-signer:

Note: RIT is prohibited from accepting any financial or other benefits in exchange for displaying lenders and loan options and the lenders presented above are not recommended by RIT. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will work with any lender a student chooses.