RIT/NTID Freshman Undergraduate Application

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We give every application comprehensive consideration and seek diverse applicants who demonstrate character, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

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Statement on Ethical and Fair Admissions Practices
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues to put students first in the admissions process. We continue to use fair and ethical practices as we recruit, review applications and counsel our prospective students and their families. Our admissions officers support and promote ethical responsibility with our colleagues in the admission profession.

Manage Your Application

With an RIT admissions account, you can monitor your application, submit a portfolio (if required), apply for the Performing Arts Scholarship, receive your admissions decision, and more.

If you need to change your submitted application, do not submit a new application. Please email ntidadmissions@rit.edu with your request (e.g. change academic program choices, switch to Early Decision, change your term, withdraw application, etc).

Log into Your Admissions Account

Application Timeline

You may submit your fall application starting on August 1. Spring Semester or Summer Term applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

If RIT is your first choice university, there are many benefits to applying with one of our Friendly Early Decision plans. Learn more about Friendly Early Decision Benefits

Missed the Deadline? Not a Problem! Admission applications received after the deadline will be reviewed, but on a space-available basis for each program. If you have questions, contact ntidadmissions@rit.edu.

Timeline	Early Decision I	Early Decision II	Early Action	Regular Decision
Application Deadline	November 1	January 1	November 1	January 15
RIT Financial Aid Application Recommended Filing Date	No longer required - learn more	No longer required - learn more	N/A	N/A
FAFSA Recommended Filing Date	As soon as possible	January 1	January 15	January 15
Admission Decision Notification	Mid-December	Mid-January	Late-January	Mid-March
$500 Deposit Deadline - Pay Deposit	January 15	February 15	May 1	May 1

Admission applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Completing the FAFSA by the recommended deadline ensures timely delivery of your financial aid offer, allowing you time to make an informed enrollment decision.

Applying Early

Is RIT one of your top choices? If you act sooner, you will know earlier. Consider applying for one of our early plans – Early Decision I, II, or Early Action. You will receive an admissions decision and financial aid offer earlier than Regular Decision applicants.

purple graphic with "Apply by November 1"

Early Decision I is for students who are certain RIT is their top choice. Apply by November 1 to:

Receive the earliest possible decision by mid-December
Stand out in a small pool of applicants and benefit from higher acceptance rates, especially for competitive majors
Get a full review of your scholarship and financial aid eligibility before committing
Wrap up your college search early – if accepted, you'll commit to RIT by January 15 and stress less during your senior year

Learn more about applying Early Decision

Early Decision II is a second round of application review for students who discover that RIT is their top choice after the Early Decision I deadline has passed.

Apply by January 1 if you like all the reasons listed in Early Decision I and would like to be considered for the second round. If accepted, you'll commit to RIT by February 15 and stress less during your senior year.

Learn more about applying Early Decision

Early Action is for students who are excited about RIT and ready to apply early and hear back sooner. Apply by Nov. 1 to

Receive your decision by late-January
Show your interest in RIT without having to commit early
Get your scholarship and financial aid offer before Regular Decision applicants
Have until May 1 to make your final decision

Academic Preparation and Requirements

Most deaf and hard-of-hearing students applying to RIT choose a specific major as part of the admission process. In addition, all colleges offer exploration programs if you're unsure which major best fits your career goals. Given the variety of majors, admission requirements and entrance exam score ranges will vary from one major to another.

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)

Application Checklist

Use the list below to make sure you don't miss a step!

Admission to RIT is competitive, but our admission process is a personal one. Each application is reviewed holistically for strength of academic preparation, performance on standardized tests, counselor recommendations, and your personal career interests. We seek applicants from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.

Complete, sign, and submit the Common Application or RIT Application
Pay the $65 application fee
Deaf and hard-of-hearing and American Sign Language—English Interpretation prospects who visit the RIT/NTID campus or attend an RIT/NTID summer camp will have their application fee waived.
Request an Official High School Transcript
Transcripts may be sent electronically or mailed/emailed to NTID Admissions from your high school.
- Email: NTIDadmissions@rit.edu
- Mail: Rochester Institute of Technology, NTID Office of Admissions, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623.
- Fax: 585-475-2696
Homeschooled Students - review guidelines developed for homeschooled students in our FAQ section.
Submit SAT or ACT (optional)
RIT is "Test Optional" for all undergraduate programs. Applicants may choose whether to report test scores to be considered with their application.

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.
Submit Letter of Recommendation
A school counselor recommendation is preferred, teacher recommendations are welcome, and any additional recommendation letters will be considered (minimum of 1 recommendation letter required, suggested maximum of 3-5). Recommenders are welcome to email their letters to NTIDadmissions@rit.edu.
Essay
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.
Submit Audiogram
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.
International Applicants Only
Students whose native language is not English must submit results of the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic examination. Only the reading and writing sections are required for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Testing can be self-reported, but an official report is required prior to enrollment. Frequently Asked Questions for International Applicants
Art Portfolio
If you are applying for a bachelor-level degree program in the School of Art, School of Design, and School of Film and Animation, an Art Portfolio is required.

Test Optional Information

RIT is "Test Optional". This means submitting SAT or ACT scores as part of your application is not required. You can choose whether or not you'd like to submit them. It's entirely up to you!

Please note: If you are applying to a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) program and are planning to submit your ACT scores, we recommend including the optional ACT Science section.

Frequently Asked Questions

On the Common App or RIT Application, you'll have the option to include test scores. If you do not include them as part of your application, RIT will not see your scores (even if you've taken a test).

RIT will continue to review applications with a holistic approach, taking all of the applicant’s credentials into account. For applicants requesting to be reviewed without test scores, the admissions committee will continue to look at all factors of a student's application including grades earned in academic coursework; performance in honors, IB/AP courses; regents coursework and exams (for NYS residents), essay/personal statement; letters of recommendation, involvement in activities; and other achievements, along with a portfolio for those students applying to one of RIT’s BFA degrees in the Schools of Art, Design, and Film and Animation. In the absence of test scores, more weight will be placed upon the overall grade performance and other items mentioned above.