Rochester Institute of Technology

What is the history of Rochester Institute of Technology?

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) traces its origins to the Rochester Athenaeum, founded in 1829. The institution developed a practical and technical focus through the Mechanics Institute, established in 1885; the two organizations merged in 1891.

The institution adopted the Rochester Institute of Technology name in 1944. In 1968, it moved from downtown Rochester to its present campus in Henrietta, south of the city. That year also marked the arrival of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a federally supported college within RIT. These developments help explain RIT's combination of career-oriented programs, creative and technical fields, and education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

What are the faculties and departments at Rochester Institute of Technology?

RIT organizes its academic programs across colleges and schools spanning computing, engineering, art, design, science, business, health, and the liberal arts. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, while NTID also offers associate-level pathways.

Its academic units include the College of Art and Design; Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences; Kate Gleason College of Engineering; College of Engineering Technology; College of Science; College of Health Sciences and Technology; College of Liberal Arts; Saunders College of Business; NTID; and the School of Individualized Study. Students can find programs ranging from computer science, cybersecurity, and mechanical engineering to photography, film, biomedical sciences, psychology, and accounting.

The distinction between engineering and engineering technology matters: they have different curricula and may lead to different professional pathways. Applicants should compare the requirements of a specific major rather than assume that similarly named programs are interchangeable. RIT's cooperative education model is also integrated into many - but not all - degree plans.

What is the location of Rochester Institute of Technology?

RIT's main campus is in Henrietta, New York, a suburb south of Rochester. Its address uses a Rochester mailing address, but the campus is not in downtown Rochester.

The suburban setting gives students a largely self-contained campus while keeping regional employers, cultural venues, and services within reach. Commuters should account for travel across the Rochester area and check current parking and transit arrangements. First-year students may register or park a car on campus, subject to campus rules.

Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is the nearest major airport. RIT also has international locations and partnerships; applicants should distinguish a program based at the Henrietta campus from one offered through another RIT location.

What is the mission and vision of Rochester Institute of Technology?

RIT describes its mission in terms of educating students through a blend of technology, the arts, and design, with an emphasis on experiential learning and work that addresses practical problems. Its stated vision centers on the interaction of those fields and the impact of education, research, and creative work.

Those statements describe institutional priorities, not a guarantee about any student's experience. The relevant questions for an applicant are how a particular program incorporates projects, research, cooperative education, or creative practice - and whether those requirements fit the student's goals. RIT is a private, nonsectarian university.