ROCHESTER | New York – December 2025 – After more than 100 years of operation and a legacy of 4,000 graduates, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has officially deactivated its Print and Graphic Media Technology bachelor’s and master’s programs. As reported by Hannah Meyer, the decision follows a sustained period of declining enrollment that finally led the university to pull the plug on the historic department.
The Shift in Student Interest
The decline wasn’t sudden. Bruce Myers, an associate professor within the department, told Meyer that the closure was expected given the changing landscape of high school education. Many students now view printing through a vocational lens rather than a professional degree path. Furthermore, the high cost of equipment and a public perception that “print” begins and ends with dying newspapers have steered prospective students elsewhere.
Myers highlighted the program’s prestigious past, noting that in 1981, enrollment hit a record high of 775 students. At that time, Myers noted, the program was considered the “Harvard of printing.” Today, however, students interested in digital imaging and software like Adobe Creative Suite often opt for one of the nearly ten other majors RIT offers that cover similar ground.
Impact on the Student Body
The reaction on campus is a mix of sadness and resignation. Meyer spoke with students who saw the writing on the wall:
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Ethan Tourville (4th Year): Expressed frustration over the loss of academic diversity and fewer course options, noting that class sizes had dwindled to as few as two students.
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Mathew Kiptum Kipruto (Graduate Student): Shared a particularly moving account of moving from Kenya specifically for this degree, as no such graduate-level programs exist in Africa. For Kipruto, the deactivation is a personal blow to a lifelong passion.
The “Teach-Out” and the Future
RIT will not leave current students stranded. The university is implementing a “teach-out” process, which allows those currently enrolled to complete their curriculum and earn their degrees even though new applications are no longer being accepted.
While the dedicated major is disappearing, the discipline will not vanish entirely:
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Club Presence: The Technical Association for Graphic Arts (TAGA) will continue to offer students hands-on experience with print and digital production.
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Integrated Curriculum: RIT plans to fold two specialized printing courses into the existing packaging science major to ensure the technology remains a part of the university’s academic fabric.
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