Rochester Institute of Technology is a private technology university in Rochester, New York, with one of the oldest and largest co-op programmes in the US. It is best known for computing, game design, imaging science, engineering, design and photography, and it hosts the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Choose it for a hands-on STEM degree with paid work experience built in.
Rochester, New York, United States
Official website: rit.edu
#1001
One of the largest co-op programmes in the US, with over 4,500 employers
Top 5 in the US (Princeton Review)
Around 19,000 students, including 3,000 from abroad
$45,000 – $62,000
International students, undergraduate and master's programmes, before scholarships
$15,000 – $19,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on rit.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Computing Security
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Information Technology and Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
BS Game Design and Development
Bachelors DegreeDuration
60 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Co-op — most bachelor's degrees include up to a year of paid work with employers nationwide.
Golisano College of Computing — one of the largest computing colleges in the US.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf — the world's first technical college for deaf students.
MAGIC Spell Studios — a campus studio for games, film and digital media.
Graduates join Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Lockheed Martin, IBM and Epic Games.
Co-op students earn while they study and often convert placements into job offers.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Around 95% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,300-acre campus sits in Henrietta, south of Rochester, with brick academic buildings around a central quarter mile, the Student Alumni Union, on-campus apartments and the Gordon Field House.
Rochester is a mid-sized city on Lake Ontario with low rent, a strong photonics and healthcare economy and snowy winters. Buffalo, the Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls are about an hour away.
Form I-20 issued by RIT
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision I closes 1 November 2026, Early Decision II closes 1 January 2027 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027. Graduate deadlines are rolling, with priority dates around 15 February for fall and 15 October for spring in most computing programmes.
Undergraduates start in the fall (late August). Most master's programmes, including computer science, data science, computing security, IT and analytics and electrical engineering, admit for both fall and spring (January), with a few also taking summer entrants. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, computing security, IT and analytics and electrical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree in a related field with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 88 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE is optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is selective, with an acceptance rate around 65%.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships worth up to around USD 25,000 a year when they apply, though need-based aid for them is limited. Master's applicants with strong records receive partial tuition scholarships, and graduate and teaching assistantships are available in computing and engineering.
