Rochester Institute of Technology
60 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
7,705 men
3,504 women
Part-time:
1,149 men
636 women
Graduate School:
2,340
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
8,394
Number accepted:
5,862
Number enrolled:
2,269
Average SAT scores:
V 590 M 630
Average ACT score:
27
Average GPA:
89%
Freshman retention rate:
88%
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$25,027
Room and Board:
$9,833
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,625
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
80%
Average financial aid package:
$19,700
FACULTY:
Full-time:
870
Part-time:
464
Ph.D.:
80%
Student-faculty ratio:
13:1
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York
College Description
Respected internationally as a world leader in career-oriented education, Rochester Institute of Technology has been setting an innovative pace since 1829, when Colonel Nathaniel Rochester became the first president of the Rochester Athenaeum. In 1891, the Athenaeum merged with Mechanics Institute, which had been founded by a group of businessmen to instruct in “drawing and such other branches of studies as are most important for industrial pursuits.” In 1944, recognizing the increasingly specialized professional nature of its programs, the university adopted the name it holds today. A private, coeducational university in upstate New York, RIT offers academic programs that combine outstanding teaching, a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, modern classroom facilities and work experience gained through the university’s cooperative education program. As one of the nation’s premier career-oriented universities, our goal is to prepare you for your future, wherever it may lead. RIT offers quality programs for successful careers. You’ll find respected and accessible faculty, sophisticated academic facilities, and an active campus life here. You’ll also find a special emphasis on learning through experience. RIT has been recognized by U.S. News &World Report magazine as the number one comprehensive university in the North for academic reputation and as one of America’s “Best College Values.” Our eight colleges offer outstanding programs in business, engineering, art and design, science and mathematics, liberal arts, photography, hotel management, packaging science, computer science, information technology, and other areas. Almost one-third of our undergraduates are transfer students from two-year colleges or other four-year institutions. Our full-time undergraduate students include 1,100 deaf students.
Academic Life
With a strong foundation in the humanities and social sciences, RIT graduates understand both technological developments and the larger philosophical and ethical issues presented by technology. This is a place where faculty enjoy interaction with students—not only in class or during office hours but in the dining halls, in the library, or at the Student Life Center. It’s a friendly but challenging environment, and our faculty’s approach to teaching makes it so. If the image you have of a major university includes auditorium-sized classes, think again. Our student/faculty ratio is 13:1, and our average class size is 25 students. This helps to ensure you get the personal attention you deserve. Experienced faculty members teach in every program, and we don’t rely on graduate student teaching assistants. Our faculty have extensive experience in the classroom, in research, and in their professional fields, and they share their expertise with you every day. Their active roles in business, industry, publishing, and applied research not only bring RIT worldwide recognition, but help to create exciting learning opportunities for our students. Of our many strengths, there’s one that really separates us from the crowd. We believe hands-on experience often stays with you longer than something you read in a textbook or hear in a lecture. That’s why our programs stress the practical application of knowledge. Our faculty take every opportunity to make learning a hands-on experience and encourage you to relate what you learn to real-life situations. And then there’s our cooperative education program—co-op. Real jobs at real companies. You can’t get more relevant experience than that. Study abroad: There’s no better way to gain an understanding of another culture than to experience that culture on a firsthand basis. To prepare you for success in an increasingly global society, RIT offers a range of exciting study abroad opportunities that can provide an international perspective in your academic area of interest. You can immerse yourself in another culture though our study abroad programs offered in cooperation with St.Petersburg State University (Russia), Sheffield Hallam University (England), Marsburg University (Germany), or Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan). In a shared program with Syracuse University, RIT students also have the opportunity to study in Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, Australia, China, South Africa, Mozambique, Argentina, Peru, and other international locations. Accelerated programs: If you’re looking for a way to distinguish yourself from the crowd, you may want to consider one of RIT’s many accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs. These dual-degree programs allow you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less time than it would normally take to complete each degree separately. For example, you might combine a BS in industrial engineering with a business MBA in a five-year period, or you might complete both a BS and MS in environmental science in five years. Most accelerated BS/MS programs require completion of freshman and sophomore course work at RIT before applying for admission. Honors program: The RIT Honors Program provides a comprehensive education designed to meet the educational, career, and personal objectives of RIT’s most talented students. The Program recognizes the diversity of degree programs offered through RIT’s colleges while, at the same time, allowing Honors students to benefit from a variety of shared educational and extracurricular experiences, such as general education Honors courses, special research projects, community service projects, leadership activities, travel, and special Honors housing. Honors Program Scholarships are also awarded.
Programs of Study
Few universities provide RIT’s variety of career-oriented studies. Our eight colleges offer outstanding programs in business, engineering, art and design, science and mathematics, liberal arts, photography, computing, hospitality management, and many other areas. More than 200 different programs—including such distinctive offerings as microelectronic and software engineering, imaging science, film and animation, biotechnology, physician assistant, new media, international business, telecommunications, and the programs of RIT's School for American Crafts and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)—draw students from every state and more than 90 foreign countries.
Campus Life
Our campus is alive with energy and activity, providing round-the-clock opportunities for leadership, entertainment, relaxation, and personal growth. More than 6,000 full-time students live on campus in residence halls or apartments, and our self-contained, suburban location gives the campus a safe, residential atmosphere. We offer campus living options to meet a variety of needs and interests. If you’re passionate about art, photography, science, computers, or engineering, you may want to live in one of our residence hall special-interest “houses.” Others include International House, for international and American students and Unity House, which develops and fosters awareness of black history and culture. Campus apartments are an attractive housing option for many sophomores, juniors, and seniors, since RIT has one of the nation’s largest university-owned and operated apartment systems. Five apartment complexes are located less than a mile from the center of campus. Apartment living offers you opportunities to personalize your surroundings, cook your own meals, and take a big step toward life after college.
Facilities and Resources
At RIT, we know your surroundings help shape who you are now and who you might become in the future. That’s why we’ve filled our campus with the latest equipment, technology, and conveniences and given our students the tools they need to excel. RIT offers academic facilities that are rarely matched on other campuses. In the academic heart of campus, you’ll find premier facilities—classroom, laboratory, and research. There’s no question that we have one of the most sophisticated, high-tech campuses in the nation, and we stay ahead of the curve by continually investing in and upgrading our campus infrastructure. We’ve taken a leadership role in academic computing, wiring every nook and cranny of the university to give you maximum access to research and information resources. With two OC3 connections to the Internet, 20,000 network connections, 530 miles of Ethernet cable, and an eight million-foot fiber-optic backbone, we provide computing access that is hard to beat. In fact, Yahoo! Internet Life magazine has ranked RIT among “America’s Most Wired Colleges” and once awarded our Computer Science House its top ranking as “the most wired dorm in the nation.” RIT is also one of a select group of universities with access to the Internet 2 research network.
Athletics/Sports
RIT’s intercollegiate athletic teams have a history of excellence, recording many impressive seasons and capturing a number of conference and national championships. The Tigers always offer the opponents some serious competition. RIT teams are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Empire Eight Athletic Conference (EEAC), and New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA). Of some 400 Division III colleges in the nation, RIT consistently ranks in the top 50 for the Sears Directors’ Cup standings for win percentage. Attending athletic events is one of the most popular activities on campus. In addition, RIT’s Student Government supports club-level sports teams in archery, bowling, cycling, equestrian, roller hockey, field hockey, men’s lacrosse, rugby, alpine skiing, men’s volleyball, water polo, women’s cross country, and ultimate frisbee. Most club teams compete on an intercollegiate level, although some are solely for recreational purposes. Several club teams have competed in national championship tournaments, with men’s roller hockey capturing the Division national championship in 2001. You’ll find everything from basketball and racquetball courts to a dance studio in our Student Life Center. Another great feature—especially if you like to put miles on your running shoes—is the indoor track. Other campus athletic facilities include two more gyms, a swimming pool, an ice arena, and a weight-training room. A new $25 million field house will be completed by summer 2004. Outdoor facilities include lighted tennis courts, playing fields, an all-weather track, and a fitness trail. If you have your own way to stay in shape or work off some steam, the chances are good that you can do it at RIT. Intramural sports emphasize fun as well as fitness. Our extensive program includes co-ed teams in everything from basketball and flag football to inner-tube water polo and golf. Tournaments help to keep the competition interesting. More than 50 percent of our students participate in these activities each year, making intramurals one of the best ways to make friends at RIT. So join the action.
Financial Aid
We feel strongly that no qualified student should refuse to consider RIT because of cost. We offer a full range of traditional financial aid programs and a number of innovative financing plans as well. This past year, more than 75 percent of our full-time undergraduate students received financial aid awards or academic scholarships. These students qualified for more than $130 million in financial assistance from federal, state, and institutional sources. Many families also took advantage of RIT’s 10-month, interest-free payment plan or used our four-year prepayment plan that guarantees participants no increase in tuition. We believe we can help you afford the quality education you are looking for.
Admission Requirements
Admission to RIT is competitive, but our admission process is a personal one. We are interested in learning about your interests, abilities, and goals in order to provide the best information and guidance we can as you select the college that is right for you. Students applying for freshman admission for the fall quarter (September) may apply through an Early Decision Plan or Regular Decision Plan. The Early Decision Plan is designed for students who consider RIT their first-choice college and wish to receive an early commitment regarding admission. Early Decision requires that candidates file their applications and supporting documents by December 15 in order to receive admission notification by January 15. Freshmen who choose not to apply for Early Decision are considered under our Regular Decision Plan. Regular Decision applicants who have provided all required application materials by February 1 will receive admission notification by March 15. Applications received after February 1 will be reviewed on a “space-available” basis, with notification letters mailed four to six weeks after the application is complete. Students interested in being considered for academic (merit) scholarships or the RIT Honors Program must apply by February 1. All applications for transfer admission, and all applications for admission to RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), are reviewed as they are received, and notification letters are mailed four to six weeks after the application is complete.
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