RIT is now offering esports scholarships.
Rochester Institute of Technology is launching its first esports scholarships.
The scholarships recognize students for their competitive video gaming skills and dedication to representing the university at the highest level. Since forming in 2016, RIT Esports has become one of the largest and best collegiate esports programs in the world.
Starting in fall 2025, RIT will offer 20 scholarships for new students—providing $2,000 each year. The university will also offer performance-based scholarships for select current students.
To learn more
Apply for the esports 2025-2026 scholarship by March 21 on the RIT website.
As the esports industry has grown—with millions of viewers and billions of dollars in revenue—more than 200 colleges have formed esports teams. Several have begun offering scholarships.
RIT is not only offering scholarships for competitive student-athletes. RIT scholarships are also available to students with the skills to run esports operations teams. RIT’s seven student-led support teams help run everything from designing the jerseys to running events to broadcasting live-streamed matches.
“We want to attract and support these high-caliber esports students, who are hyper-intelligent and driven to succeed in all aspects of life,” said Chad Weeden, director of esports and cybersecurity range at RIT. “Frankly, it’s also fun to win national championships.”
RIT Esports has brought home 18 national championships, and students have won more than $100,000 in prizes. RIT Esports currently competes in 23 games, including Rocket League, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and Overwatch.
With more than 200 competitive players and around 2,600 community members, RIT Esports is bigger than many college athletics programs.
RIT Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabu David has been a big supporter of RIT Esports. He helped to make the new scholarships happen.
“These esports scholarships recognize our talented student-athletes who use their technical expertise to perform at the highest level,” said David.
David also noted that RIT is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 game design schools, according to international rankings from The Princeton Review.
“Esports at RIT is also a community builder, bringing together students from different majors and backgrounds, including our students who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said David. “We realize that esports is male-dominated and one of the goals of this scholarship opportunity is for RIT to be a leader in showcasing the talents of women in esports.”
Ben Feldstein, far right, is part of the winning tradition of RIT Esports. Together with RIT’s Counter-Strike 2 team, Feldstein won the 2023 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Grand Finals
Ben Feldstein, a fourth-year management information systems major and vice president of RIT Esports, worked with the provost to develop the new esports scholarships. Feldstein has also won two national championships as part of RIT’s Counter-Strike 2 team.
“It’s just like any other sport or musical ability,” said Feldstein, who from Manhattan, N.Y. “There are so many young people who put their blood, sweat, tears, and love into honing their raw skills to play these titles.”
Feldstein continued. “I think these scholarships are going to help set-up students for success after school—whether they make it to the pros or not. We’re proving to everyone that we have great students here and they dream big.”
February 28, 2025
Local artist celebrates people of color through his work and teaching
WROC-TV features the work of Unique Fair-Smith, adjunct professor in the College of Art and Design, which shows students how Black history and Rochester are intertwined.
February 28, 2025
Coastal economies rely on NOAA, from Maine to Florida, Texas and Alaska – even if they don’t realize it
The Conversation published an article by Christine Keiner, chair of the Department of Science, Technology, and Society, about the importance and impact of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
February 27, 2025
New executive director named for RIT Certified
Rosalie Clemens, formerly vice president of Workforce Development and Community Engagement for AmeriCOM, has been named executive director of RIT Certified.
February 27, 2025
Fischell Institute Black History Month Spotlight: Loryn Johnson
The Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices interviewed Loryn Johnson ’20 (biotechnology and molecular biosciences), a neuroscience Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Address and Phone
1 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
585-475-2411
Copyright © Rochester Institute of Technology.
All Rights Reserved.
