Rochester Institute of Technology

Academic Programs

RIT is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and offers Associates Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees and Doctorates. RIT has special accreditation for Dietetics, Art & Design and Graduate Teacher programs, although the largest programs on campus are in Engineering, Engineering Technology and Information Technology. The school is comprised of 9 colleges and is known for providing career-focused coursework. To that end, RIT has a robust Co-Op program (wherein over 3500 students co-op time with over 2000 businesses). RIT’s Mission and Vision Statements advise “Through a unique blend of curricular, experiential, and research programs delivered within a student-centric culture, Rochester Institute of Technology prepares its students for successful careers in a global society” and “RIT will be a great world university whose academic portfolio, research agenda, and educational model align with the shifting needs of a complex planet.” Part of this Mission and Vision is fulfilled by the many Online programs available: Certificates, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees are offered online.

Student Life

Over 18,000 students are enrolled at RIT; the school offers a variety of residence options ranging from the 13 residence halls to apartment-style living, Special Interest housing and Greek chapters. Students can participate in over 150 on-campus clubs as well as intramural and pick-up sports for those who aren’t the Varsity athlete. For the varsity athlete, the school competes in NCAA Division III sports, where the Brown & Orange Tigers field teams in 12 sports. Among the several traditions on campus are the Mug Tug (an annual charity fund raiser involving a tug of war in a muddy field) and FreezeFest featuring several winter activities and events. A notable feature of the student body is the high percentage of hearing-impaired students – one of the nine colleges is the National Institute for the Deaf. Such integration adds a depth to the community that is rarely found elsewhere. RITs core values include Student Centeredness, Professional Development and Scholarship, Integrity and Ethics, Respect, Diversity and Pluralism, Innovation and Flexibility and Teamwork and Collaboration. All this works together for a complete academic experience.