Policies

Explanation of Fees

All new first year and transfer undergraduate students are assessed a one-time Orientation /Transfer Transition Fee to support programs and services related to new student and transfer orientation programs. This fee is charged even if a student chooses not to attend orientation programs. Each new student is assessed the Orientation /Transfer Transition Fee that will appear on the tuition statement.

All full time (enrolled in 12 or more credit hours) undergraduate students and graduate students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours in a degree program and students enrolled in the English Language Program are assessed the Student Health Services Fee for services offered by the Student Health Center, Student Counseling and Psychological Services, Case Management, Health Promotion and programs that support student well-being. This fee does not cover diagnostic tests performed by offsite laboratories and centers, x-rays or other imaging, prescriptions, medications dispensed by the Student Health Center, or referrals to outside specialists and/or other health care providers.*

Part time and co-op students may opt to pay the semester Student Health Services Fee in order to access available services or choose to pay the office visit fee for services in the Student Health Center or Counseling and Psychological Services.

*RIT expects all students to carry medical insurance. If your plan does not provide coverage in the Rochester area, RIT offers a Student Accident and Sickness Insurance program for purchase. Note, some plans provide emergency service coverage only. We strongly recommend all students have full, local coverage.

All full time and part-time undergraduate and all graduate students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours in a degree program, are assessed the Student Activity Fee. The student activity fee supports programs, events, and services that enhance the quality of student life at RIT.

The Wellness Education Fee is assessed for classes offered through Recreation and Wellness Education. Please see the course catalog for the fee associated with each course.

The Wellness Fee Credit reflects the allowable credit for the Wellness requirement based on a student’s degree program status, course registration and program requirement. For more information on wellness credit requirements for graduation view Wellness Education Graduation Requirements. 

Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (SFRA)

Financial institutions, including the financial offices of colleges and universities, are required by federal debt collection and consumer protection laws to be transparent with their billing and payment policies/procedures and collection requirements. Institutions must also ensure that students (consumers) are aware of their policies and responsibilities. For this reason, RIT requires that students accept the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (SFRA), which acknowledges their financial obligations and understanding of the related policies of the university. The SFRA informs students of their financial responsibilities associated with enrolling for classes, living in on-campus housing and participating in meal plans; and explains the potential consequences that may result if a student fails to meet those obligations.

Our goal is to help students understand the cost of their education and the financial policies associated with their enrollment at RIT. The SFRA, in conjunction with the Student Financial Services’ website, e-statement account information, letters and other documentation, helps explain the university’s expectations for payment, and allows us to clearly inform students of our policies related to billing, late payment, contact methods, etc.

The SFRA is a mandatory agreement that outlines financial obligations and responsibilities for attendance at RIT. All students must complete the SFRA via their SIS student portal on the task tile.

The SFRA must be accepted in order to continue to access university services, including class registration, as an active RIT student.

The SFRA must be completed at least once per academic career, or if changes to the current agreement are mandated.

All students are ultimately responsible for their student account, including any unpaid balances should the third-party payer not pay completely, and as such, must accept the SFRA.

It is common for students whose tuition and fees are funded to accrue charges on their student account which are not covered by the university and/or outside sources of aid. For instance, students may be sponsored for tuition and fees only, and have housing charges, for which they are responsible. Student accounts also reflect items such as parking fines. In these instances, students are financially responsible for those additional charges and, as such, must accept the SFRA. Additionally, in the event an account balance results from a change of circumstance in a funding source, students are responsible for the amount due.

While a student at RIT, we must be able to contact you regarding your academic and financial obligations and requirements. The SFRA applies to any contact made regarding your financial obligations to the university.

Failure to complete the SFRA can result in a hold being applied to your account. This hold will prevent registration-related activities.

If you have an enrollment hold due to the SFRA requirement, it will be removed immediately upon accepting the agreement.

Please contact the SFS office at asksfs@rit.edu if you have any questions regarding the SFRA.

Tuition Assessment Policies

Degree seeking students are assessed the tuition and fee rate associated with their program, regardless of the course taken. Non-degree seeking students are assessed the undergraduate tuition rate for undergraduate courses and the graduate rate for graduate courses.

Students accepted into an undergraduate Applied Arts & Science program on a part-time basis are assessed tuition at the part-time rate if registered for less than 12 credit hours. If registered for full time (12 to 18 hours) students will be assessed the full time undergraduate rate.

Courses taken for audit are assessed tuition at one-half the normally assessed rate.

Degree seeking undergraduate students registered for over 18 credit hours are charged full-time tuition plus the applicable credit-hour rate for each hour over 18.

Degree seeking graduate students registered for more than 18 credit hours are charged the full-time rate plus the applicable credit-hour rate for each hour over 18.

RIT’s definition of full-time status for graduate students is 9 or more hours of semester credit for reporting purposes. For tuition assessment, student will be charged the part time rate for 1 to 11 hour and the full time rate at 12 to 18 hours. Financial aid will be applied accordingly.

Payment of Fees/Promise to Pay

I understand and agree that when I register for any class at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT; university), receive any service from RIT (including student meals and/or housing), defer any payments due to RIT, or incur any liability for damages to RIT property, I accept responsibility to pay in full by the published or assigned due date all tuition, fees and other associated costs assessed by RIT. Except as stated in RIT's published refund policies, my obligation to pay in full all tuition, fees, and other associated costs for instruction or services offered by RIT will not be reduced or discharged for any reason, including without limitation the manner in which the classes or services are provided (including changes to/from online, remote or hybrid modes); the locations where classes may be held or services provided (including situations of full or partial campus closure); or suspension or cancellation of classes or services in response to weather events, health and safety concerns (including epidemics and pandemics), government orders, other emergency circumstances and force majeure events, or failure of any anticipated resource (including financial aid, family gift, employer reimbursement and others).  

I understand that, in the event that instruction or services are modified or cannot be provided for any reason, including without limitation those stated above, no refund or reimbursement in whole or in part shall be provided, and it shall be in RIT's sole discretion how to use or apply such tuition, fees, and associated costs. I agree that my registration and acceptance of these terms constitute a binding, legally enforceable contractual agreement. I understand that statements in other RIT publications and representations made to me do not form any part of this contractual agreement unless expressly incorporated herein.

The university reserves the right to change its price and pricing policies without prior notice.

Financial Standing

Students, former students, and graduates are in good financial standing when their account is paid in full through the Student Financial Services Office. A late payment fee will be charged to all student accounts that become past due. This includes, but is not limited to, deferred payment accounts that become past due. Those whose account is not paid in full will not receive diplomas or other forms of recognition and/or recommendation from the university. Students must be in good financial standing with RIT to register for classes.

Use of Social Security Numbers

Social security numbers are confidential and may only be released in accordance with applicable law.  RIT is committed to safeguarding information. For more information view RIT’s security policy.

RIT collects social security number from its students for a variety of reasons including:

  • For use in processing admission applications for purposes of identification and verification of student records
  • For use in administering federal and state programs/loans, including verification of eligibility
  • For use in complying with IRS reporting requirements pertaining to education tax credits provided under federal legislation
  • For use in preparing student enrollment reports required to be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System under Federal Law
  • For submitting reports to federal and state agencies as required 

RIT Payment Card Compliance Policy

RIT Business Units that accept credit and debit card payments are required to adhere to standards established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC).  RIT Payment Card Compliance Policy >