In 1891, the Mechanics Institute merged with the Rochester Athenaeum, forming the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, in order to provide more comprehensive education for both of the student bodies.

At this point, the RIT campus was still in downtown Rochester, and the engineering college was still in the original Mechanics Institute buildings.

The college remains there today and is housed at the James E. Gleason Building and the Center for Microelectronic Engineering.

[1] The college includes the following departments and programs:[2] All seven of KGCOE's bachelor's degree programs are ABET (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology) accredited, which is a prerequisite for licensure as a professional engineer in many states.

Undergraduate engineering degrees require four blocks of co-op employment, totaling 48 weeks.