Early Decision

Act Sooner. Know Earlier.

If RIT is your 1st choice university, apply Early Decision to bring some certainty to your plans.

Get notified sooner in the admissions process

You’ll be notified earlier than Early Action and Regular Decision applicants. While Early Decision is binding, students hear about their decision and get the necessary information about affordability before making a final commitment to RIT.

Receive early notification of your merit scholarships and financial aid

You’ll have merit scholarship and financial aid information from RIT before submitting your enrollment deposit. Learn more

Stand out from the crowd

Admission acceptance rates tend to be higher in Early Decision since there is a smaller pool of applicants.

Change your mind? Our early decision plans are friendly.

If you apply for Early Decision and determine we are not affordable, you can request to be moved from the Early Decision plan. Learn more about our policy
Start Your ApplicationView All 9 Reasons to Apply

Early Decision Application Deadlines

Early Decision I

Application Deadline

November 1

RIT Financial Aid Application Recommended Filing Date 

No longer required - learn more

Decision Notification

Mid-December

FAFSA Recommended Filing Date

As soon as possible

Deposit Deadline

January 15

Early Decision II

Application Deadline

January 1

RIT Financial Aid Application Recommended Filing Date 

No longer required - learn more

FAFSA Recommended Filing Date

January 1

Decision Notification

Mid-January

Deposit Deadline

February 15

Jake Korner headshot

"Since RIT was my number one school, the choice to apply for Early Decision was an easy one for me. It meant that I could stand out among other applicants, showing the school I had a desire to be in their program at one of the top schools in the country. Once I had my Early Decision acceptance, the stress and worry of where I’d be going to college was over, and I could enjoy the rest of my senior year. Some of my high school friends were worried if they’d be accepted at the school of their choice, and had to wait to find out.

But the best thing was there were no surprises—my parents and I knew about my financial aid offer and scholarships before my deposit was due. I knew with confidence that my Early Decision application to RIT was the best decision I could have made!"

Jake Koerner
Exercise Science Major

9 Reasons to Apply Early Decision

  1. It shows RIT you’re serious about joining our community
  2. You’ll stand out in a smaller applicant pool
  3. There’s no financial risk – you’ll review your scholarship and financial aid assessment before making a final decision
  4. It’s advantageous for students interested in highly competitive majors such as Computing, Engineering, Game Design, Physician Assistant, and Film and Animation
  5. You’ll receive earlier notification about eligibility for exclusive opportunities including Honors Program, Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees, Performing Arts Scholars, ArtEx, and more
  6. You’ll receive priority selection for campus housing
  7. Get exclusive events invites –  there’s a VIP event just for Early Decision accepted students
  8. Receive your accepted student swag early and show your Tiger pride
  9. You’ll be in good company – each year, about one-third of our entering class trusts and commits to RIT through Early Decision

Receiving a Financial Aid Offer

The 2025-26 FAFSA is now available. We encourage you to complete it as soon as possible.

  1. All Early Decision applicants must complete the 2025-26 FAFSA to receive a financial aid offer. 
    If you need assistance as you complete the FAFSA, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
  2. You’re automatically considered for merit-based aid.
    Admitted Early Decision applicants will automatically be reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Those who file the FAFSA will also be reviewed for need-based financial aid before the enrollment deposit deadline.

Additional Information

  • The RIT Financial Aid Application was previously required for all Early Decision applicants in order to provide a timely and accurate financial aid assessment due to the FAFSA delay. Now that the 2025-2026 FAFSA is available, Early Decision applicants can skip the RIT Financial Aid Application and just submit the FAFSA.
  • If you have already completed the RIT Financial Aid Application and/or receive an RIT Financial Aid Assessment, you can still rely on that assessment to make your enrollment decision as long as the information on the RIT Financial Aid Application and the FAFSA is the same. You must still complete the FAFSA to receive a confirmed financial aid offer.  

Complete the FAFSA

Your family is encouraged to work with your assigned Financial Aid Counselor to assist you through the financial aid process. If you and your family determine that RIT is not an affordable choice, you should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office so you may be released from the Early Decision plan.

Our Early Decision Policy

Early Decision plans differ from school to school so it is important to understand the differences before you make a decision on how to apply.

Our early decision plans are “friendly”

Early Decision is binding. However, if after reviewing your aid offer you determine that RIT isn't financially feasible, you can request to be released from the Early Decision agreement. We're committed to ensuring that RIT is the right fit for you, both academically and financially.

Upon committing to RIT, you’ll need to withdraw other applications

Once you decide to accept RIT’s offer of admission, you should submit your $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit on or before the deadline to confirm your intention to enroll. At this time, you should withdraw your applications from all other colleges/universities.

If you’re not accepted through Early Decision or to your first choice program, there are other options

If you are not accepted through Early Decision, in most cases, you will be asked to submit mid-year senior grades and will be reviewed a second time with applicants in the Regular Decision plan. Early Decision applicants who are accepted to an alternate (second or third-choice) program of study may request to be released from the conditions of Early Decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may switch from Regular Decision to Early Decision as long as the deadline for the early decision plan you intend to switch to has not passed.

While the timelines to apply and commit are different, the other benefits and policies are the same. Early Decision II applicants typically select this option because they discover RIT is their top choice university after the November 1 deadline for Early Decision I has passed. 

Early Decision I and II are for students who are certain RIT is their top choice and can apply by November 1 or January 1. Early Action is for students who are excited about RIT, ready to apply early, and want to hear back sooner but want more time to make their final decision. Early Action is non-binding. If accepted, students can still consider other schools until May 1. This option shows your strong interest in RIT while keeping your options open.

Learn more about the differences

Early Decision I applicants are notified by mid-December. Early Decision II applicants are notified by mid-January.

Early Decision is binding. However, if after reviewing your aid offer you determine that RIT isn't financially feasible, you can request to be released from the Early Decision agreement. We're committed to ensuring that RIT is the right fit for you, both academically and financially. Once you accept our offer and pay your enrollment deposit, you should withdraw your applications from other colleges.

RIT is only able to provide an assessment of financial aid based on the information you provide in the RIT Financial Aid Application. The FAFSA provides the final Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine financial need.

Families who wish to be considered for need-based financial aid will need to complete the FAFSA, even if they already completed the RIT Financial Aid Application.

We're Here to Help

Student sitting with faculty member chatting

If you have questions or would like to request more information, get in touch.

  585-475-6631
  admissions@rit.edu
  Find Your Admissions Counselor