Rochester Institute of Technology campus
Rochester, United States
Photo: Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA)

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester·university

#801

QS Rank

26%

Acceptance rate

12%

Intl. students

$53,720

Tuition/yr

19,500

Enrollment

About Rochester Institute of Technology

Elite private research university in Rochester, NY. Outstanding engineering, technology, and arts.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private research university located in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester, New York, founded in 1829. It enrolls over 20,000 students across nine colleges, with particular strength in engineering, computing, imaging science, business, and the arts. RIT is also home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of the world's largest technology-focused universities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

RIT's cooperative education program is one of the largest in the United States, ranked 5th among top schools for co-op and internship programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. The university places approximately 3,500 students per year in paid, full-time co-op positions with around 1,900 partner companies. Over 100 degree programs carry a STEM designation, making graduates eligible for a 24-month OPT extension after graduation.

The main campus spans 1,300 acres and RIT operates global campuses in Croatia, Kosovo, and Dubai. The university hosts students from 115 countries, with international students comprising roughly 12 percent of the student body. RIT holds a QS World University Ranking of 951–1000 (2026) and a Times Higher Education ranking of 601–800 (2026).

World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings (2026)#801
Times Higher Education (THE) (2025)#801
US News Best Global Universities (2025)#103

Campus & Location

Province

NY

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 900–1,500/mo. Food: USD 350–550/mo. Upstate NY; affordable with strong optics, imaging, and health sciences sectors.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.

For Nepali students

  • RIT has an active Nepalese Student Association on campus, meaning Nepali students arrive into an established community of peers from Nepal rather than starting from scratch.
  • With over 100 STEM-designated programs at both undergraduate and graduate level, Nepali graduates in computing, engineering, and data science are well-positioned for the 3-year post-study STEM OPT work authorization in the United States, significantly improving return on investment.
  • RIT offers merit-based scholarships to international undergraduates at the time of admission, which can partially offset the approximately USD 53,000–63,000 annual tuition; doctoral students may receive full-cost funding.
  • The co-op program provides paid full-time work experience before graduation, allowing Nepali students to build a US professional network and earn income that helps cover living costs during their degree.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.
IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

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Data last verified: 2026-06-18 · Source: https://www.rit.edu. Information may change — verify with Rochester Institute of Technology’s official website before applying.