RIT/NTID Freshman Undergraduate Application

Learn more about the variety of academic opportunities available to deaf and hard-of-hearing students at RIT.

Most students applying to RIT choose a specific major as part of the admission process. In addition, undecided career exploration programs are available to explore major options, and the School of Individualized Study can help you design a major around your interests if they don’t fit into a single degree program or college. Given the variety of majors, admission requirements and entrance exam score ranges will vary from one major to another.

Degree Specific Admissions Requirements (including SAT and ACT mid 50% range)

Complete the Common Application or RIT Application.

Instructions on how to submit your $65 fee are included with your application. Visit the RIT campus or attend an RIT summer camp and your application fee will be waived.

All applicants must submit a high school transcript showing academic work through the junior year and senior year courses. First quarter/semester senior year grades are highly recommended. Contact your high school guidance office and ask your counselor to send an official high school transcript to: Rochester Institute of Technology, NTID Office of Admissions, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. Transcripts are acceptable if they are faxed, but must include a cover sheet that clearly shows that it came directly from the high school. Transcripts can be faxed to 585-475-2696. An electronic high school transcript will be accepted if it is sent through Parchment Exchange or the Common Application.

Provide official or self-reported test results from the SAT or ACT.

For Fall 2023 and beyond: RIT is "Test Optional" for all undergraduate programs. Applicants may choose whether to report test scores to be considered with their application. SAT/ACT score results will be required for consideration in the RIT/SUNY Upstate Medical University Accelerated Scholars Program.

If you choose to send scores, you can send scores in the following ways:

• On your application for admission
• Via email to NTIDadmissions@rit.edu
• From your school/college counselor via mail or email

If you plan to submit official test scores directly to RIT from the SAT or ACT Testing Centers, please use college code 2760 (SAT) or 2870 (ACT). Students who complete the ACT may submit scores with or without the optional writing section. To send scores from the testing centers, please use www.collegeboard.org for the SAT, and use www.ACT.org for the ACT.

RIT reviews its applicant pool using a holistic review process. Each applicant is reviewed individually taking all classes, rigor of high school coursework, grade point average, rank, final exams, portfolio, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and many other factors into the final decision on admission to their RIT major. For those not submitting scores, our admissions officers will consider with increased weighting on their “additional information”, looking for important qualities and characteristics along with academic and personal accomplishments.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants need to submit one recommendation. Ask the individual writing the letter to complete the recommendation section on the secondary school transcript request form in the RIT Undergraduate Application. Or, if you prefer, the letter can be sent separately on an official letterhead. The author of the letter should be someone who is familiar with your work in school, for example, a school counselor, a teacher or a coach.

The personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. The essay questions are included in the application.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants, including those with cochlear implants, need to submit an audiogram as part of the application process. The audiogram should include all hearing test results and etiology, along with the requisite provider signature. Uploaded files should be in PDF format, and we cannot accept photographed copies. Audiograms can also emailed to NTIDAdmissions@rit.edu or faxed to 585-475-2696.

Every deaf and hard-of-hearing student is an RIT student. Some study in associate degree programs within the College of NTID at RIT and some in bachelor's degree programs at one of RIT's eight other colleges. In all cases, RIT/NTID receives funding from the federal government for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. An audiogram is needed to determine eligibility for the reduced tuition rate. The audiogram has no role in determining academic admissibility.

If you are applying for a bachelor-level degree program in the School of Art, School of Design, and School of Film and Animation, a portfolio is required.