University of Rochester: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

University of Rochester is a private institution located in Rochester, New York with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Rochester admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 36%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1480 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,248 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Rochester is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for University of Rochester?

Admitted students at University of Rochester typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

What does University of Rochester weight in admissions?

University of Rochester reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

SAT and ACT scores University of Rochester typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 700. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does University of Rochester actually cost?

Published tuition is $64,348 for in-state students and $64,348 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,924 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,248 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Rochester

Will my child graduate from University of Rochester?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Most popular majors at University of Rochester

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Rochester, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Rochester confers roughly 1,280 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $92,348 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

Is University of Rochester safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Rochester disclosed 53 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 11 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

What is campus life like at University of Rochester?

About 71% of undergraduates at University of Rochester live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 8% of men join a fraternity and 10% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in New York parents ask about

• Columbia University in the City of New York
  4% acceptance
• Cornell University
  8% acceptance
• New York University
  9% acceptance
• Fordham University
  69% acceptance
• SUNY at Albany
  58% acceptance
• SUNY at Binghamton
  69% acceptance
• University at Buffalo
  49% acceptance
• Stony Brook University
  38% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about University of Rochester