Named a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Driving Innovative Education Nationwide
RIT has been recognized as one of the Most Innovative Universities in the country. From launching cutting-edge academic programs and expanding research initiatives to providing hands-on learning through its top-ranked co-op program, RIT empowers students to turn innovation into real-world impact.
A University of Firsts
It’s no surprise that RIT is consistently listed among the most innovative colleges for its forward-thinking approach to innovative education. From pioneering academic programs to breaking new ground in emerging fields, RIT has a long history of leading students into the next big thing.
The First U.S. Degrees in These Emerging Technologies
- Biotechnology BS
- Microelectronic Engineering BS
- Software Engineering BS
- Imaging Science Ph.D
- Microsystems Engineering Ph.D
First in the World
Innovating for the Greater Good
RIT Students Create Assistive Products for Real Clients
RIT’s interdisciplinary Studio 930 program empowers students to design innovative, hands-on solutions—from sensory toys for children with autism to medical tools for healthcare professionals—addressing real-world challenges through collaborative learning and design thinking.
Learn more about RIT Students Create Assistive Products for Real Clients
New Design Platform Allows Engineers to Think More Sustainably
RIT engineers are redefining sustainable design with PhoenixDFR—a first-of-its-kind platform that helps manufacturers build products ready for a circular economy.
Learn more about how a New Design Platform Allows Engineers to Think More Sustainably
Where Innovation Is Part of the Curriculum
RIT Animators Transform Music Into Immersive Visual Experiences
Students and faculty from RIT’s School of Film and Animation collaborated on The Hundred Windows, an experimental performance that blends live music, projection animation, and soundscapes to create a sensory-rich concert connecting the community to innovative storytelling.
Discover more RIT Animators Transform Music Into Immersive Visual Experiences
Designing the Future of Furniture: RIT’s Metaproject 15 Pushes Creative Boundaries
Partnering with Icon Design and ARBR Studios, RIT industrial design students produced modern furniture solutions rooted in the timeless Vignelli design philosophy.
Turning Big Ideas Into Breakthrough Realities
Vertically Integrated Projects Bridge Classroom Learning with Real-World Innovation
The Vertically Integrated Projects initiative at RIT connects multidisciplinary student teams with faculty mentors, offering hands-on research experiences that foster innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving early in students’ academic careers.
RIT Researchers Expand Reality Itself
From virtual stages to historic printing presses, RIT innovators are pushing the boundaries of extended reality to make immersive technology more powerful—and more accessible.
Discover more about how RIT Researchers Expand Reality Itself
Don’t miss the next RIT innovation.