About
Overview
Our Mission
The College of Art and Design is RIT’s creative hub where art, design, and technology intersect. From centuries-old and contemporary methods of producing fine art to the latest in digital media, the College of Art and Design possesses a comprehensive selection of majors in disciplines related to visual communication, imaging, and science. If your interests are artistic, creative, and professional, a world of possibilities awaits you here.
The College of Art and Design is a place where the lights are on 24 hours a day, where you can’t travel through the halls without pausing — to study an exhibit of photos by your fellow students, marvel at the symmetry of the artisan’s bowl rising from a clay-spattered wheel, glance into a computer lab at animation or design projects, or watch graphic media students operate millions of dollars’ worth of printing equipment like pros. It’s a supportive learning environment, where unparalleled resources, dedicated faculty, and partnerships with industry leaders combine to prepare you for your next big goal.
Here, students have access to specialized studios, labs, and equipment that are among the most complete and current of any university in the world. You’ll also learn from faculty who are active professionals and show you how to create, critique, and display your work. It’s a place that sets you up to make a difference in your field and the world.
By the Numbers
| Student Body (approximate) | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 1,725 |
| Graduate | 225 |
| Male | 702 |
| Female | 1,248 |
| Faculty (approximate) | |
|---|---|
| Full-time Faculty | 135 |
| Adjunct Faculty | 70 |
| Staff | 60 |
| Degrees Offered | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Fine Arts | 10 |
| Bachelor of Science | 2 |
| Master of Fine Arts | 9 |
| Master of Science | 2 |
| Master of Science for Teachers | 1 |
| Associate of Occupational Studies | 1 |
| Minors | 10 |
Key Facts
15
Alumni Pulitzer Prizes
Eleven College of Art and Design graduates have combined to win 15 Pulitzer Prizes.
14:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Students receive copious attention and guidance from the College of Art and Design’s committed faculty.
25
Computer Labs
An abundance of digital work space equipped with Macs and PCs is available for student use.
8
Fulbright Awards
Since 1997, the College of Art and Design has had eight prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients, allowing them to study, research, or teach abroad.
5
Science-Based Degrees
The College of Art and Design’s wide portfolio of offerings include BS, MS, and MST degrees.
4
Immaculate Galleries
Students, faculty and alumni exhibit their work in galleries housed in or run by the College of Art and Design.
35+
Professional Affiliations
College of Art and Design faculty are professional members or affiliates of more than 35 national, international, and local organizations.
70
Companies
Around 70 companies — including Google, The Mill, and others — flock to campus each year for Creative Industry Day, where students meet with professionals about employment opportunities and portfolio reviews.
12
3D Printers
The College of Art and Design’s Fab Lab holds 12 3D printers — in addition to laser cutting and CNC routing technology — to complete submitted projects by RIT students, faculty, and staff.
85
Design Archives
More than 85 prominent designers’ work is archived in RIT’s Vignelli Center for Design Studies and Cary Graphic Arts Collection.
500k
Design Artifacts
The Vignelli Center for Design Studies houses over half a million design artifacts in its archives.
1,038
Student Workstations
The College of Art and Design has 1,038 computer workstations for student use, with 779 Macs and 259 PCs.
A Rich History
In the fall of 2018, the College of Art and Design was renamed from the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, a name it had held since 1992. The first classes in the college were in industrial design, drawing, and architecture, when RIT was established as Mechanics Institute in 1885.
Over the years, the college has prepared countless artists, animators, designers, filmmakers, photographers, scientists, teachers, and technologists to make a difference in their field — and by extension, the world. From inheriting the School for American Craftsmen (now School for American Crafts) in 1949 after it was founded at Dartmouth College three years earlier to developing an environment that promotes creativity and collaboration, the college has long been a place where pioneering ideas become reality.
Today, the College of Art and Design offers a wide range of degrees that allow students to explore disciplines in art, American crafts, design, film and animation, and photography.
National Council
The College of Art and Design has a National Council comprised of talented individuals called upon regularly to advise the Dean on strategic issues and initiatives of major significance to the college, while also shaping visionary plans for the future. Learn more