Early Decision
Act Sooner. Know Earlier.
If RIT is your 1st choice university, apply Early Decision to bring some certainty to your plans.
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
Receiving an Early Decision Aid Estimate
- 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. -
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.