RIT and the Rochester Area
Rochester Institute of Technology
Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Beyond our main campus in Rochester, New York, RIT has international campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. And with over 19,000 students and more than 135,000 graduates from 49 states and over 100 nations, RIT is driving progress in industries and communities around the world.
RIT was ranked 117th among National Universities in the U.S. News and World Reports Best Colleges Rankings 2021, and it is a national leader in professional and career-oriented education. The RIT Ph.D. program in Computer and Information Sciences was ranked 68th in the U.S. News and World Reports 2018 ranking of Best Doctoral Computer Science Programs. CSRankings ranked the PhD program in Computing and Information Sciences at RIT as 26th in the U.S. in the field of Human-Computer Interaction, based on publications from 2011 to 2021.
Rochester
Rochester, situated between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes region, is the 51st largest metro area in the United States and the third largest city New York State; it is a conveniently short distance from Toronto, Buffalo, and Syracuse. The Greater Rochester region, which is home to nearly 1.1 million people, is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity, with a population comprised of approximately 18% African and Latin Americans and another 3% of international origin. It is also home to one of the largest deaf communities per capita in the U.S.
In addition, Rochester ranks 4th for “Most Affordable City" by Forbes Magazine, and MSN selected Rochester as the “#1 Most Livable Bargain Market” (for real-estate). Kiplinger named Rochester one of the top five “Best City for Families.” The Finger Lakes area is New York's largest wine-producing region and home to multiple higher education and cultural institutions, with a vibrant culinary scene and over 140 annual festivals and events.
