FIT is a public institution that prepares students for a wide range of careers in creative business and design professions. Academic accomplishments, achievements that predict success on the college level, and demonstrated talent are factors that the Admissions Committee considers when evaluating applications. All applicants—whether intending to study full-time or part-time—must meet the same admissions standards.
FIT believes that a person’s creative and leadership abilities are revealed through participation in activities in any of several fields, such as governing organizations, student clubs, or the visual and performing arts. The Admissions Committee would like to know about all accomplishments in which applicants take pride. All applicants are required to submit a personal essay indicating why they selected their particular major, and highlighting all activities or accomplishments.
All applicants to School of Art and Design programs must offer evidence of artistic and creative ability through the submission of a portfolio.
Student Categories
FIT offers a variety of study schedules during the fall and spring semesters and summer and winter sessions in order to meet the needs of its students. The following definitions provide clarification of the student categories at FIT. Not all student categories are mutually exclusive—one-year students, for example, are also full-time students.
Matriculated Students
Matriculated students are those who are enrolled in an FIT degree program, whether undergraduate or graduate, full- or part-time. The majority of their classes take place during the day; however, some evening classes are also available.
Matriculated Evening/Weekend FIT offers a number of evening/weekend degree programs (see Curricula Overview). Courses in these programs are scheduled during the evening and/or weekend.
Full-Time Full-time undergraduate students are enrolled for 12 or more credits per semester.
Part-Time Part-time undergraduate students are enrolled for less than 12 credits per semester.
One-Year One-year students are matriculated undergraduates enrolled in a one-year associate degree program who have earned a minimum of 30 transferrable credits from a previous institution.
Nonmatriculated Students
Nonmatriculated students are those who have not been admitted to a degree program but are enrolled in at least one course. Students who hold a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) may register for courses and complete certificate programs offered at FIT by completing the appropriate non degree or certificate application. Courses that are open to nonmatriculated students are typically scheduled during the evening and on the weekend; they may or may not carry college credit. Some credit-bearing courses are reserved for matriculated students only. All students must meet prerequisite requirements for any course they plan to take. All students who wish to seek a degree must apply through a formal admissions process before accumulating more than 24 credits (see Matriculation Status Policy for details on how many credits taken in nonmatriculated status may be applied to a degree).
Admissions Process
Applicants who have taken either Advanced Placement (AP) or College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) exams must contact the College Board and request that official test scores be sent directly to the FIT Admissions Office.
- Go to fitnyc.edu/admissions and complete the FIT/SUNY application online. Students must apply to a specific major program of study.
- After the online application is completed, applicants submit their high school transcripts, and all college transcripts, to FIT’s Admissions Office. The mailing address for transcripts is:
Fashion Institute of Technology
Admissions Office
227 West 27th Street, Room C139
New York, NY 10001-5992 - Applicants will submit a personal essay online after receiving an email with instructions to access MyFIT (myfit.fitnyc.edu).
- Applicants to School of Art and Design programs will receive portfolio requirements specific to their major, and submission instructions.
Application Recommended Filing Dates for Admission to Associate Degree Programs
Application Submission
All applications are reviewed in the order they are received and are completed. An application is complete when all transcripts, essays, and other required materials are on file in the Admissions Office. Applicants should refer to information specific to their intended program of study for requirements. In addition, all applicants whose native language is not English must provide an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score, or Pearson Test of English (PTE) score. This includes applicants who have been living in the United States.
Application Deadlines for Associate Degree Programs
Domestic and international applicants use the same application when seeking admission to FIT. Visit fitnyc.edu/admissions for additional information.
- No later than January 1 for the fall semester.
- No later than October 1 for the spring semester.
Students who have not completed applications by February 1 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester risk being closed out of the major of their choice.
Readmission
Students who seek readmission to FIT should notify Admissions in writing or online at fitnyc.edu/readmission prior to the intended semester of reentry.
- No later than January 1 for the fall semester.
- No later than October 1 for the spring semester.
Additional Application Materials
Transcripts
Transcripts must be sent directly to FIT. Transfer students who have not yet earned their college degree must submit a high school transcript with proof of high school graduation.
Applicants educated outside the United States should refer to the International Applicant Credentials information at fitnyc.edu/internationalapplicants.
TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Scores
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score, or a Pearson Test of English (PTE) score.
TOEFL: The minimum TOEFL score requirement depends on which test format you are using:
- Internet-based test (IBT): Minimum score must be 80.
- Computer-based test: Minimum score must be 213.
IELTS: The minimum band score of 6.5 in the academic module is required.
PTE: A minimum score of 53 must be met.
A current TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score is required. The score must be no more than 5 years old on the date of anticipated enrollment.
Applicants who have completed an English composition course at a college in the United States are not exempt from taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.
Students who have completed less than four years of English (not ESL) at a U.S. high school are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.
For information about scheduling the TOEFL exam and obtaining score reports, visit toefl.org. In the United States, you can call (609) 771-7100.
For information about scheduling the IELTS and obtaining score reports, visit ielts.org.
ArtworkEvaluation
All applicants to School of Art and Design programs must submit a portfolio for evaluation. After the application is received by FIT from the SUNY Application Services Center, applicants can enter MyFIT to access specific instructions and options to submit their portfolio. No portfolio is required from applicants to the Baker School of Business and Technology or School of Liberal Arts programs.
FIT will be accepting portfolios for all AAS majors and Photography and the Digital Image BFA, and Fabric Styling BFA programs, using SlideRoom. To access SlideRoom please visit: fit.slideroom.com
Departmental portfolio requirements are listed below. Please visit: fitnyc.edu/portfoliorequirements for current detailed portfolio requirements and instructions. The applicant must be the sole creator of all artwork in his or her submitted portfolio.
Requirements for Admission to Two-Year Associate Degree Programs
Candidates for admission to the two-year AAS degree programs are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Candidacy for, or possession of, a high school diploma or a recognized high school equivalency degree.
- A high school transcript showing grade point average (GPA) and transcripts from all colleges attended.
- A personal essay describing the applicant’s background and reasons for choosing FIT and the selected major. The Admissions Committee would like to know about all accomplishments in which the applicants take pride, along with career goals and personal interests. Applicants will be emailed submission instructions upon completion of the online application.
- SAT/ACT: SAT and ACT test scores are not required for admissions purposes. They are, however, required for the Presidential Scholars Program. They are also required for placement into your English and Math classes at FIT. SAT/ACT scores should be sent directly to the following address:
Fashion Institute of Technology
Center for Placement, Room B623
227 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001 - For applicants whose first language is not English, an official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. Students graduating from U.S. high schools with blocks of coursework completed as English as a Second Language (ESL), or who have completed less than four years of English (not ESL) at a U.S. high school, are also required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE to prove English proficiency.
- For applicants to School of Art and Design programs, a portfolio containing representative examples of their art and design work (see Artwork Evaluation).
- Applicants educated outside the United States should review the International Applicants Credentials information at fitnyc.edu/internationalapplicants.
Requirements for Admission to One-Year Associate Degree Programs (effective Fall 2015)
- Completion of at least 30 transferable credits from an accredited college with a minimum of 24 liberal arts credits equivalent to FIT’s General Education requirements: 3 credits in college-level mathematics above basic algebra (G2; B&T Majors: MA222 Statistics recommended); 3 credits in English composition (G1; Composition taken in the U.S. or in a country in which English is an official language); 3 credits in literature or speech; 3 credits in physical science, biology, or life science (G3). The remainder General Education/Liberal Arts credits are outlined below by school designation. Six (6) additional transferable elective credits are required for 30 transferable credits. Listing of FIT's General Education courses: fitnyc.edu/gened
- For applicants to the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology and Liberal Arts: 12 liberal arts credits in General Education areas G4-G10 from a minimum of 2 different areas (4 different areas recommended) — G4: Social Science (B&T majors: SS141 Macroeconomics recommended): G5: Western Civilization; G6: Arts; G7: Humanities; G8: Foreign Language; G9: Other World Civilizations; G10: American History
- For applicants to Art and Design: a strong portfolio containing representative examples of their art and design work (see Artwork Evaluation) and 6 credits of Art History, plus 6 liberal arts credits in G4-G10 areas (2 different areas recommended): G4: Social Science; G5: Western Civilization; G6: Arts; G7: Humanities; G8: Foreign Language; G9: Other World Civilizations; G10: American History
- General Education Exemptions: An earned bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited four-year institution (U.S. or International) may exempt a student from all of the above liberal arts/general education requirements except 3 credits in English composition (G1; Composition taken in the U.S. or in a country in which English is an official language) and for Art and Design majors, 6 credits of Art History. If required to take English Composition or Art History, the student ideally takes the missing courses in the term before starting the degree program.
Requirements for Admission to Evening/Weekend Degree Programs
Applicants to FIT’s evening/weekend degree programs adhere to the same admissions guidelines.
Academic Credit by Evaluation
Accepted applicants may apply up to 30 credits earned through published subject examinations (examples listed below) and transfer credit toward fulfillment of degree requirements at FIT. Those who have completed college-level liberal arts courses in which a grade of “C” or better has been achieved will receive credit for coursework equivalent to courses at FIT (see Transfer Credit).
Credit for published examinations applies to the following three tests, provided that the specified minimum performance levels are met, and that the subject examination is in an area that would normally be eligible to receive credit during an evaluation of transfer credits.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Mean score must meet or exceed the equivalent of a grade of “C” in a formal course.
Advanced Placement Program (AP)
A score of 3 or higher on a scale of 5 points used for this program.
International Baccalaureate Program
A score of 4 or higher on exams for higher-level (HL) courses.
Official test scores must be sent directly to the FIT Admissions Office by the issuing board or awarding authority. Complete information about applying for academic credit by evaluation is available in the Registrar’s Office and at fitnyc.edu/registrar.
Notification
Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions in approximately early April for the Fall term. A nonrefundable tuition deposit of $150 is required of accepted applicants to reserve their space.
Fall applicants must submit their tuition deposit by May 1. Students who have submitted a tuition deposit may be required to meet later deadlines for registration and immunization.
Enclosed with the letter of admission are specific forms pertaining to the applicants’ residency, parents’ consent for medical attention (for those under 18 years of age), application for the residence halls, financial aid information, etc.