RIT Financial Aid Application
Despite delays from the U.S. Department of Education in distributing FAFSA data to colleges, RIT is providing a way for you to receive a financial aid offer in time for you to make your college decisions.
Although families can now submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are still issues with colleges/universities receiving your FAFSA data from the U.S. Department of Education, resulting in delayed financial aid offers.
To address the delays in FAFSA data delivery, we've introduced the RIT Financial Aid Application. This application ensures timely and trustworthy financial aid estimates for admitted students aligned with corrected FAFSA considerations. If you are seeking need-based aid you should submit both RIT's Financial Aid Application and the FAFSA. We will send aid estimates to those who have submitted the RIT Financial Aid Application. Once the Department of Education releases FAFSA information to us we will confirm financial aid offers.
Rest assured, despite the challenges of the FAFSA roll-out, RIT is ready and we’re here to help each step of the way. We will continue to assess and respond to the changing environment related to this year's FAFSA changes.
What Needs to Be Done
To provide accepted students with a financial aid estimate, certain applicants must complete both RIT’s Financial Aid Application and the FAFSA.
RIT's Financial Aid Application is formulated using the same logic and considerations as the corrected FAFSA, ensuring our financial aid estimate should remain consistent as long as your financial information provided on the FAFSA is the same. RIT’s Financial Aid Application was successfully used by over 1,400 families during our Early Decision review and provided accepted students with the financial information needed to make a well-informed college selection. Completing RIT's Financial Aid Application does not imply acceptance. Admissions decisions are typically sent out by mid-March.
Applicants must Submit the FAFSA and Submit RIT's Financial Aid Application
Deadlines:
- File the FAFSA as soon as possible
- Complete RIT's Financial Aid Application as soon as possible
Who Needs to Complete the Application
RIT's Financial Aid Application is required for:
- First-year and transfer applicants who applied for Fall 2024 start, who also are
- U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens seeking need-based aid (i.e. loans, grants), and
- Have been notified in their admissions portal that they need to complete the application
You do not need to complete RIT's Financial Aid Application if:
- You do not intend to file the FAFSA and do not seek need-based aid (i.e. loans, grants)
- You have already completed RIT's Financial Aid Application as an Early Decision I or II applicant
- Are an international applicant
- Are a graduate applicant
- Are a current RIT student
All applicants continue to be automatically considered for merit-based aid (e.g. merit scholarships from RIT).
Steps and What to Expect
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All applicants should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
RIT will wait for the FAFSA data to be sent to us from the U.S. Department of Education. -
Applicants who have been notified to do so should complete RIT's Financial Aid Application as soon as possible.
With this information, we will be able to provide accepted students with a financial aid estimate. -
If you are accepted and have completed RIT's Financial Aid Application, we will send a financial aid estimate.
Accurate information provided in RIT's Financial Aid Application will produce a trustworthy financial aid estimate. -
Once we receive your FAFSA data from the U.S. Department of Education, we will confirm your financial aid offer.
We will continue to assess, respond, and communicate changes related to the FAFSA and financial aid offer timing.
The RIT Financial Aid Application is no longer required for the 2024-25 aid year.
We encourage accepted students to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible.
If you have completed a valid FAFSA, you can log into your admissions portal to view your confirmed financial aid offer or your updated FAFSA status with RIT. Please note that you may be required to complete additional steps for us to confirm your financial aid offer. Those steps are outlined in your portal. Log into your admissions portal