Financial Aid and Scholarships
Attending college is a significant decision that requires a considerable investment of your time, effort and finances. RIT offers many financial resources to help you reach your goals.
Dedicated financial aid advisor
When applying to Saunders College of Business, you have a dedicated financial aid advisor to coach you through the many financial aid and scholarship options for you to consider.
Get the information you need to apply for financial aid including deadlines, step-by-step instructions, forms, and more by selecting a link below. Many sources are available, including scholarships, grants, loans, student employment, work study, and more. If you need help or have questions, you can also visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Saunders College endowed scholarships
Saunders College Endowed Scholarships are available to current undergraduate and graduate students after they have completed one semester. To apply, students must meet several requirements. Please review the following information to learn more about the scholarships available and how to apply.
E. Philip Saunders Scholarship
A lifelong resident of Livingston County, NY, Mr. Saunders established the E. Philip Saunders Scholarship. The undergraduate scholarship provides two, four-year academic scholarships annually, to graduates of Avon, Dansville, Livonia, Mt. Morris and York High Schools in Livingston County, NY, who have been accepted to Saunders College of Business.
Graduate degree scholarships
A graduate degree delivers a high return on investment as they are the key to a lifetime of higher earnings. See for yourself how, as the 2024 Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters Survey, “The estimated median starting salary for U.S. MBA graduates is roughly 1.75 times that of bachelor's degree holders.” Graduate degree scholarships are available for those meeting the following criteria.
RIT Master Plan
40% graduate degree scholarship for RIT Alums! Whether you’re a recent grad of RIT or you’re about to complete your bachelor’s degree, now’s the time to continue your education and apply for an RIT master’s degree. The RIT Master Plan is an opportunity for you to pursue a master’s degree and receive a scholarship covering a significant portion of your graduate tuition.
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RIT Master Up
30% graduate degree scholarship! An exclusive offer for U.S. citizens or international applicants who reside in a U.S. state or U.S. territory with a bachelor’s degree.
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Scholarship awards for RIT honors students
50% graduate degree scholarship for RIT Honors students! RIT Honors students applying to Saunders College of Business graduate programs may qualify for a 50% scholarship and apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver. This applies to all applicants who successfully complete the requirements of the RIT Honors Program upon certification and are accepted into Saunders College.
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+1 MBA partner schools scholarship awards
30% graduate degree scholarship is available for students from +1 MBA partner institutions who meet the full admissions requirements. Review of Saunders scholarship awards takes place along with department admission decisions.
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Student employment
RIT offers many opportunities to offset the cost of tuition by working. Students get paid positions while gaining valuable work experience.
Co-op financial benefits
Our unique Cooperative Education Program (co-op) not only complements your academics, but has financial benefits. This full-time, major-specific, paid work experience provides early career exposure that can help you stand out and earn more. Undergraduate and graduate students have the following benefits while on co-op:
- Pay $0 tuition while on co-op
- You may still qualify for financial aid
- Co-op earnings can help you pay for personal expenses or your tuition and fees
- Co-ops are often built into your academic plan allowing you to graduate on time
Student employment on-campus
All students may consider a variety of employment opportunities across the university. Student employees are paid bi-weekly, and these earnings are taxable. Most students use their earnings to pay for books, travel, and personal expenses rather than for tuition and fees. For further details on eligibility and employment opportunities, please visit the Student Employment Office.
Graduate student workers
As a graduate student worker within Saunders College, you will support faculty in their research and class preparations or support administrative personnel of the college. These positions are for an estimated 8 hours per week, and the application process occurs during graduate orientation.
Accelerated degrees
Accelerated BS/MS programs allow you to save time and tuition by shortening the amount of semesters needed to obtain an undergraduate and a graduate degree. Business examples include the Accounting BS/MS and the +1 MBA options. There are two ways to enroll in accelerated programs.
- First-year students – Outstanding applicants for first-year admission may be offered conditional early acceptance to a master’s degree program as an incoming first-year student.
- Current undergraduate students – RIT students currently enrolled in a qualifying undergraduate degree program may apply for admission to a combined accelerated bachelor’s/master’s pathway after their second or third year of study, depending upon their bachelor’s degree program.