Financial Aid

Scholarships are awarded through competitions, corporations, private donors, foundations, fraternal organizations, unions, and local and state governments. Phi Theta Kappa scholarships are awarded to transfer students. Fastweb.com is one of the best resources for external scholarship opportunities.

Listed below are scholarships available specifically to ASL-English Interpretation majors.

Alice Beardsley Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund for Interpreting Students at NTID

Established in 1997 by NTID faculty and staff members in memory of Alice Beardsley, NTID's first interpreter. This fund provides scholarship assistance for interpreting students at NTID/RIT.

Awarded annually; application is due early spring semester.

For information: Contact Barbara Polle, LBJ-2620

Phone:  585-475-6863

NYS Federation of Home Bureaus, Inc., Endowed Scholarship Fund in Honor of Martha Perry

Established in 1975 by the New York State Federation of Home Bureaus, Inc., to honor Mrs. Martha L. Perry of Holley, NY, a member of that organization for over 27 years. It was Mrs. Perry's specific request that this 35th scholarship of the federation be offered to RIT. Interpreting students are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Awarded annually; application is due early spring semester.

For information: Contact Barbara Polle, LBJ-2620

Phone:  585-475-6863

Interpretek Endowed Scholarship

Established in 2007, the Interpretek Endowed Scholarship Fund provides academic scholarships annually to students enrolled in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and studying in the ASL-English Interpretation program within the American Sign Language and Interpreting Education Department. First preference will be given to those students who demonstrate financial need. 

Awarded annually; application is due early spring semester.

For information: Contact Barbara Polle, LBJ-2620

Phone:  585-475-6863

Grants are gifts of financial assistance that are awarded on the basis of demonstrated need. The Federal Pell Grant and New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) are examples of grants. Federal Grant-in-Aid funds, awarded on the basis of financial need, are an important source of financial aid for NTID students who do not have adequate financial resources from the sum of their parental and personal contributions and assistance from outside agencies to cover educational costs. An additional example is the NTID Grant-in-Aid. NTID awards institutional grants that vary from $100 to $5,000 for each academic year.

Entitlements are a special type of grant. They are funded by state and federal governments. Eligibility for entitlements can be based on special characteristics of a recipient. An example of an entitlement based on special student qualifications is the G.I. Bill. Entitlements need not be repaid.

Loans are a lien on future earnings. The money you receive on loan is a formal financial obligation that must be repaid. You need to be aware of the interest charges, the method of payment after graduation, and the effect that loans will have on your ability to meet all of your later financial obligations. Student loans generally do not have to be repaid until six months after graduation or termination of study.

Many students utilize the Federal Direct Loan or the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan in meeting their costs. Colleges administer these programs for eligible students as part of financial aid awards.

Parents are also eligible to participate in several educational loan programs designed to enhance funds available for college expenses. Federal PLUS Loans are available to supplement other aid programs in meeting educational costs. While this parent loan is not based on need, the amount borrowed in any year cannot exceed educational costs minus other financial aid received.

If you have any questions related to billing or financial aid, you may contact:

Barbara Polle, NTID Student Financial Services Coordinator, at 585-475-6863 or email the RIT Student Financial Services representative at ntidaid@rit.edu

Employment opportunities are also available to assist RIT students in meeting college expenses. Whether or not students seek financial aid, they may choose to defray some of their expenses through student employment while attending the University. To be eligible to work on campus, you need to show a U.S. passport or two other forms of identification, such as an original birth certificate or social security card and a driver’s license.

As part of a financial aid award at RIT, students may be offered employment in the Federal Work-Study program. The Student Employment Office also helps a number of students secure part-time employment off campus.

See the Employment page in the menu bar for information and advice regarding employment.