Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology

(RIT)

Rochester, NYPrivateEngineeringNCAA D3Admissions

Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university in Rochester, New York, recognized for its strengths in computing, engineering, art, and design. RIT is nationally ranked for its game design and computing security programs, and it is home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, making it a leader in accessible STEM education. Its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation, with students completing paid work experiences before graduation.

Mascot: Tiger

Notable Alumni

Kate Gleason (pioneering woman engineer)Michael Slovis (Breaking Bad cinematographer)Daniel Durant (actor in CODA)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
67%
SAT (Optional)
1300–1460
Avg GPA
3.70
Enrollment
14.3K
Setting
Suburban
Founded
1829

Cost

Tuition$61K
Room & Board$17K
Est. Annual Total$78K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

#3 in game design nationally
Top-55 undergraduate CS program
Home to National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Athletics

Division
NCAA Division 3
Conference
Liberty League
View on NCAA.com

Campus Experience

Social Life
Moderate
Academic Pressure
Moderate
Greek Life
Small Presence
Campus Beauty
Functional

RIT's campus culture is proudly nerdy — the kind of place where a hackathon draws more excitement than a house party. Only about 6.5% of students go Greek, and they barely register in the social landscape. What makes RIT genuinely unique is the integration of 1,200+ deaf and hard-of-hearing students through NTID, creating a campus where ASL is a visible part of daily life. D1 hockey energizes the campus, and 300+ clubs provide social outlets.

A sprawling suburban campus dominated by brutalist brick buildings from the 1960s-70s with an interconnected tunnel system, functional and well-maintained but architecturally stark and repetitive.

Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.

Safety

Campus SafetySafe

Public Safety monitors the large suburban campus 24/7 with trained security personnel, the TigerSafe app, and daily crime logging. Most incidents are disciplinary.

Neighborhood SafetyVery Safe

RIT is located in Henrietta, a safe Rochester suburb with crime rates far below those of nearby Rochester city proper.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

Plan Your Visit

Guided Tour

Schedule: Six days a week (Monday-Saturday); housing tours at 11:30am and 3:30pm weekdays

Duration: ~60 minutes campus tour, plus information session

Daily tours and info sessions cover academics, campus life, and activities. Accepted Student Open House on April 11. Campus Safety at the Information Booth issues parking passes and provides directions.

Book a Tour
Self-Guided Tour

A 15-minute video tour is available online for virtual exploration. On campus, the Quarter Mile walkway connects residence halls to academic buildings and is the natural spine for a self-guided walk. The Infinity Quad and major art installations are easily found.

Tour Resources
Insider Tips
Find The Sentinel near the Administration Building -- a 70-foot, 110-ton steel sculpture by Albert Paley that is the largest sculpture on any American university campus. It's staggeringly impressive in person.
Walk the Quarter Mile, the covered walkway connecting dorms to academics -- it's the social artery of campus where everyone crosses paths. In the courtyard, find the Infinity Quad's polished stainless steel Mobius strip sculpture.
Visit during Imagine RIT (annual spring festival) for an explosion of student creativity -- projects, demonstrations, and innovations spanning art, engineering, computing, and more. It's the single best day to experience RIT's maker culture.
Explore the makerspaces and tech labs -- RIT's hands-on facilities for 3D printing, film, game design, and engineering are genuinely world-class. Ask your tour guide to show you the photography darkrooms and the MAGIC Center (games and interactive media).
The campus contains an estimated 15.7 million bricks, earning the nickname 'Brick City' -- students have an ironic affection for the aesthetic. The Brick City Homecoming in October is the biggest weekend of the year.
Best Time to Visit

September-October for Brick City Homecoming weekend, or spring for Imagine RIT festival. FallFest and FreezeFest are also energetic. Avoid March 9-13 (Spring Break 2026) and the summer months when campus is quieter.

Getting There

Visitor parking at Lot V near Bausch & Lomb Center -- stop at the Welcome Center or Information Booth for a parking pass. RIT is at 1 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. Greater Rochester Airport (ROC) is 10 minutes away via I-390. From NYS Thruway: Exit 46 to I-390 North, Exit 13 (Hylan Drive). Uber/Lyft readily available in Rochester.

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