Information about RIT graduate costs and financial options is available here.

Graduate Assistantships

RIT is not a traditional research university that supports a large number of graduate students with research or teaching assistantships. However, a limited number of Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions are available to new, full-time, on-campus IST graduate students entering in fall term. Awards are for a maximum of one (1) academic year: fall, winter, and spring terms only. Positions are not renewable for the next academic year. GA students work with department faculty or staff to support our students and facilities.

The GA application is available from the Student Services office or it is available for download as an Adobe pdf document. The application period for the 2009-10 academi year is now closed.  Applications for 2010-11 will be due to the IST Graduate Coordinator by March 12th, 2010. Contact information is available here. Awards are made once a year, in mid-April, for the following academic year. After all awards have been granted, no further assistantships are available until the next academic year.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The Department of Information Science & Technologies periodically hires students to work with the IST faculty as teaching assistants for its undergraduate studio classes and lab sections. Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) positions are available to matriculated IST graduate students studying on campus. GTA positions are guaranteed for three (3) academic terms (fall, winter, and spring quarters only) for one academic year. The application form is available through the Student Services office or it is available for download as an Adobe pdf document. Applications are due to the Graduate Coordinator by July 31st. Contact information is available here. Awards are made once a year, by September 1st, for the academic year.

Other Assistantships at RIT

Residence Life within the RIT Division of Student Affairs (Campus and Residence Life, Orientation, the Women's Center, the RIT Leadership Institute, and Student Conduct and Mediation Services) offers several graduate assistantship positions for both incoming and returning students. These positions are very attractive for students since they can provide a stipend, on-campus housing, and a partial meal plan along with invaluable leadership, conflict resolution, and teamwork experience. Priority is typically given to applicants who apply by the end of March and who can participate in the early April on-campus interview process. In-person interviews are strongly encouraged; however, alternate arrangements can be worked out for students who are unable to attend. Information is available at the Residential Life website; more information and an online application are available at the Student Affairs website.

IST Department Scholarships

The Deborah Cahn Memorial scholarship is awarded to one or more outstanding graduate students matriculated in the MS/Information Technology program each year, in memory of one of our prior graduate students in this degree program. The application process occurs in winter term, and award(s) are announced by early spring term.

RIT Institute Merit Scholarships

An RIT Institute Merit Scholarship may be available to matriculated IST students who are receiving little or no financial support from an employer or other funding sources. Scholarships are usually granted at admission based on the strength of prior academic performance or employment background, and are typically continued as long as the student is actively matriculated. The award can be used towards either full- or part-time study.

The Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the academic department chairs and faculty, makes all decisions as to scholarship eligibility and award levels. To be eligible for the maximum amount for a given quarter, you must be in good academic standing (have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 or better) and have completed all prerequisite courses before the start of the quarter. Students who have not completed all of the program prerequisite courses, may or may not be awarded a merit scholarship at the discretion of the Graduate Coordinator. If a prerequisite course is completed at another university, you must have an official transcript sent to RIT.

Renewal of Institute Merit Scholarship

The merit scholarship must be renewed annually and is generally awarded for the fall, winter and spring quarters of the current academic year. If you plan to study in the summer quarter or take courses in a subsequent academic year, you will need to submit a scholarship renewal request form to the Student Services office. The form is available through the office or it can be downloaded here as an Adobe pdf document .

Financial Statement

Generally, your scholarship appears on the financial statements that you receive after you register for courses. This is typically an estimate based upon full-time study. However, the exact amount of the scholarship is not credited to your account until Add/Drop week is over. At that time, the exact amount of the scholarship awarded to your account can be shown since your total number of credits is set for the quarter.

Request for Additional Scholarship

The Graduate Coordinator frequently receives requests to increase scholarship amounts and in nearly all cases the requests must be denied. We realize that a student's financial situation may change due to unforeseen circumstances; if this should occur, please feel free to contact us to make us aware of your situation. For example, if you previously had tuition reimbursement from your employer or other award and your situation has changed, the Graduate Coordinator may be able to offer some assistance. However, please understand that our resources are limited.

In addition, please be aware that the IST Department does not increase the amount of a scholarship based on the student's level of academic success. Once a merit scholarship has been granted, we assume that all of our students will strive to do their best at all times.

Other Sources of Financial Aid

To be honest, there are not many additional sources of assistance. A domestic student can apply for a federal guaranteed loan. The amount of the loan is based on the difference between your available funds and the cost of the program. If you are a foreign student, you need a co-signer who is an American citizen or permanent resident. Contact the Financial Aid Office in the Bausch & Lomb Building or check their website for assistance.

For international students, the International Student Office has a very limited amount of money for students who are in a desperate situation. In addition, the International Student Office awards its own scholarships. The application is available in November and is due in early December. The awards are based on the documented financial need and the academic performance of the student.

Employment Opportunities

On Campus Jobs

Full-time students can work on campus up to twenty (20) hours per week. Various job opportunities are available on campus. These will not be sufficient to pay your tuition bill. However, the money can be used to supplement your living expenses. RIT holds a "Job Fair" every fall quarter, and students can visit the Student Employment Office to find out what positions are available at any given time.

Department of Information Sciences & Technologies

The Department of Information Science & Technologies hires undergraduate and graduate students to work in our various labs and classes on an "as needed" basis. The Open Lab employs the largest number of students to assist their peers with general lab usage, answer questions, and monitor equipment. Contact the School Lab Manager at the email address below to express your interest to work in this lab. The specialized labs require knowledge in the discipline supported by the lab; so contact these lab managers if you have background and interest in the specialized area.

Teaching Assistant

The Department of Information Science & Technologies hires graduate students to support the faculty in teaching various courses. When you arrive on campus, you can find a form outside of the Student Services office that shows the courses for which the department typically needs support. You can apply if a course requires skills that match your background. However, please be aware that job availability varies each quarter depending upon student enrollment and faculty availability.

Information and Technology Services (ITS)

ITS, RIT's division for computing support, hires students to work in various capacities. When you arrive at campus, you can find out about job opportunities by visit the ITS Help Desk in Building 7B Room 1113.

Distributed Support Services

The DSS division of ITS provides the colleges and divisions within RIT with computing support for their faculty, staff, and labs. DSS hires a large number of undergraduate and graduate student to work in their labs located in many different buildings on campus and to work on projects for departments and faculty members. To find employment opportunities, visit the DSS web site here.

Note-Taking for NTID Students

RIT has a large population of deaf students. For classes with at least one deaf student, RIT can supply a professional to to support communication in the course. In addition, RIT may hire a student, usually a member of the class, to take notes for the deaf students in the class. Highly legible handwriting, content knowledge, and strong note-taking skills are required.

When you arrive on campus, you can contact Lissa Schaefer by telephone at 475-4962 or by email at ljsnge@rit.edu for information about note-taking needs for GCCIS students.

Food Service

Jobs are available in the various cafeterias on campus. You can apply for these jobs when you are on campus by meeting the manager of the cafeteria. The major cafeterias are Gracies (Grace Watson Residence Hall dining hall), Student Alumni Union (SAU) Cafeteria (SAU building) and the Ritz (SAU building).

Cost of Program

Click here for RIT's graduate program and per-credit tution costs for the current academic year.