Thousands of people attended the inaugural Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival, which showcased more than 400 interactive exhibits and displays, featuring new product and services ideas, creative arts and crafts and research and design projects by RIT students, faculty and staff. Visitors experienced, first-hand, a unique university that blends scientists, engineers and business leaders with artists and designers, and discovered the cool things that happen when creativity and innovation converge. Check out the festival highlights.

RIT/NTID students enjoy academic and personal success. Read unique stories about current students, and learn why they chose to come to RIT and how they are pursuing their dreams here.

Choosing which college to attend is not always an easy decision. One of the most important questions you should ask yourself is, “Which one is the best fit?” RIT is the choice for more than 1,100 students with hearing loss from all over the country and the world. They come from 49 states and 12 countries because opportunities for them at RIT are unmatched by any university in the world. Affordability, access services, career-focused programs, cooperative work experiences and a vibrant campus life make RIT an excellent college choice for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

There are a variety of intramural sports at RIT each quarter. Men’s, women’s and coed team activities include basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, flag football, ice hockey and badminton. Programs in individual competition also are offered in tennis, golf, racquetball and table tennis.

At the beginning of each academic quarter, RIT students form teams and continue to play against each other for 10 weeks, followed by a series of playoff competitions. Each team plays once a week, and some students join several different teams or sports to participate more frequently. There’s no fee to join an intramural sport, and it’s a great way to meet new people and have fun.

While students at RIT/NTID work hard to develop skills to prepare for their careers, NTID employment specialists travel coast to coast connecting with employers to build relationships and educate them about hiring students and graduates with hearing loss. In addition they contribute to student success by providing employment advising, hosting annual job fairs attended by national employers, and teaching a job search process course where students get preparation in resume writing, interviewing, dressing for success and researching jobs. Read more about how NTID employment specialists support student success at RIT.

If you’ve decided that you’re looking for the quality, reputation and responsiveness of a private university, and wonder how you can afford this investment in your future, consider RIT. Faculty and staff at RIT are committed to ensuring that a quality education remains within financial reach of students with hearing loss who have the academic preparation and desire to succeed. Because RIT receives special federal support for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, you pay about one-third of RIT’s regular tuition rate. RIT is an exceptional value and an affordable choice.

In addition to the substantial tuition reduction, a variety of financial aid options are available, including scholarships, grants, loans, state vocational rehabilitation support and Supplemental Security income assistance. Get more information on financial aid at RIT.

Shannon Bean wants to make a positive difference in peoples' lives. The 20-year-old Biotechnology student from Manchester, Maine, credits her father, a high school basketball coach, and her mother, a nurse, with fostering her compassion for others.

When she was 4 years old, two significant events occurred in Bean's life: her hearing loss was discovered, and she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Bean attended public schools and first encountered American Sign Language here at RIT.

"Being here with the Deaf community helped me learn a lot in a short time," she says.

Bean is a second-year member of the RIT Lady Tigers Basketball team.

"Since third grade, basketball has been my favorite sport," she explains. "My dad taught me to play, and basketball is my passion."

Another of Bean's passions is science.

"I love science because I had great teachers who helped me develop that love," she says. "I decided to major in Biotechnology since I enjoy working in a hands-on laboratory setting. I'm also interested in the business side of biotechnology such as pharmaceuticals. This summer I hope to get a co-op in a lab."

Bean's free time is limited, but she still finds time for fun.

"There's so much to do here that I'm never bored!" she continues. "There are a lot of great clubs to get involved in. I'm part of Rotaract, a community service club, and I love to dance. I take a hip-hop class and love it. It takes away any stress you might have – you don't think about anything – you just dance!"

Bean plans to use her biotechnology education to help others.

"I'm thankful every day that there are treatments to help manage my diabetes. I want to try and find treatments for others who are not as fortunate as I am."