May 23, 2025

RISA Software Options for Students and Educators

Empowering the Next Generation of Structural Engineers

RISA is committed to supporting the academic community with free and affordable access to the same powerful software used by professionals in the industry. Whether you're a student just starting your journey or an educator shaping future engineers, we’ve got tools and resources designed just for you.

Student Plan

Students at qualified educational institutions can receive free, individual access to the RISA software they need for their coursework.

What’s Included:

Semester-long access to requested RISA products
Free resources via the RISA Learning Center
Ideal for structural analysis, design, and modeling courses

Student Plan

Educator Plan

Educators can access free, cloud-based network licensing for classroom and lab use.

What’s Included:

20 concurrent use licenses for RISA-3D, RISAFloor, RISAFoundation, ADAPT-Builder PT, and ADAPT-PT/RC
Optional annual renewal each July 15th
Free access to the RISA Learning Center for on-demand and live training

Educator Plan

Included RISA Software:

Tags: New, Educational

April 29, 2025 | New, Educational

RISA Customer Portal for Educational Users

RISA Educational Program RISA is proud to continue supporting the next generation of structural engineers by offering free access to our software through the RISA Educational Grant Program. For 2025, participating universities can access RISA software for $0 with a streamlined renewal and purchase process. How to Enroll Users There are two roles: Admin and Engineer. See the roles and permissions explain below. Instructors or University Admins should be assigned to the Adming role in the RISA Customer Portal Students should be assigned to the Engineer role in the RISA Customer Portal. To learn more about the RISA Educational Program, visit the page below. RISA Educational Program Already a practicing engineer? Try RISA and see the difference for yourself…

July 21, 2020 | Seismic, Dynamics, RISA-3D, New

Improving Mass Participation in RISA-3D

In structural engineering, a modal analysis uses the overall mass and stiffness of a structure to find the various periods at which the structure will naturally resonate, along with the frequencies of vibration of the structure. In RISA-3D, the modal analysis is a prerequisite to the response spectra analysis, which uses these frequencies to calculate forces, stresses and deflections in the model. When conducting a modal response spectrum analysis, building codes (including ASCE 7) require that a sufficient number of modes be used to understand the overall response of the structure. While it is not always possible to achieve full participation (a case where 100% of the modal mass is accounted for) the code does at minimum require that a modal analysis shall include a minimum number of modes in order to obtain a combined mass participation of at least 90% of the actual mass in each orthogonal horizontal direction (X & Z directions in RISA-3D). In order to determine the appropriate number of modes for a given structure (while also achieving the 90% mass participation required by code), RISA-3D users must first pick an arbitrary number of modes (5 to 10 is usually a good starting point) and solve…

December 5, 2023 | RISA-3D, New, RISA Customer Portal

Understanding RISA Licensing Roles: Empowering Account Management

In the dynamic world of software management, user roles and permissions are crucial for effective and secure account management. The RISA Customer Portal, a user-friendly tool designed to streamline your billing and licensing roles, offers a solution that empowers you with greater flexibility and control. In this article, we will delve into the different RISA user roles and how you can adjust them to meet your specific needs. What Are the RISA User Roles? The RISA Customer Portal offers four distinct user roles, each with its unique set of permissions: Billing Admin: As the highest authority, the Billing Admin possesses the power to make purchases, access transaction history, add or remove other Billing Admins, edit user information, and actively use the program. In the absence of a designated Billing Admin, the first Admin to make a purchase or update payment will assume this role. Admin: Admins can view transaction history, manage user information, and actively use the RISA program. Manager: Managers hold the authority to add, edit, or remove users and also have the ability to use the program. Engineer: This role is primarily for those who utilize the program without administrative responsibilities. Where Can You Adjust the User Roles?…