University of Rochester

Wilson Blvd. - Wallis Hall

Rochester, NY 14627-0011

56 Ratings
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About University of Rochester

Founded in 1850, University of Rochester. is a Private college. Located in New York, which is a city setting in New York, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 6,386 full time undergraduate students, and 4,823 full time graduate students.

The University of Rochester Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 734 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Rochester include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate35%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee50
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at UR are considered More Selective, with ,47% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 8 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 92% were in the top quarter, and 74% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Rochester.

2%
“We”re apathetic”
37%
“We know about current events and vote”
48%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
10%
“Sometimes, but not often”
52%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
35%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
11%
“I only go out in groups”
44%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
73%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
0%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
31%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
42%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
22%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
9%
“Available in class”
56%
“They keep regular office hours”
34%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
41%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
6%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
11%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
72%
“We only party on weekends”
16%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
63%
“There might be people who do”
26%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
37%
“We know about current events and vote”
48%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
10%
“Sometimes, but not often”
52%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
35%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
11%
“I only go out in groups”
44%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
73%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
0%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
31%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
42%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
22%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
9%
“Available in class”
56%
“They keep regular office hours”
34%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
41%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
6%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
11%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
72%
“We only party on weekends”
16%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
63%
“There might be people who do”
26%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    116 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    70 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    118 Students rated campus food 2.9 stars. 9 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    116 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 28 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    116 Students rated class size 4 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    116 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    119 Students rated local services 3.5 stars. 23 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    116 Students rated academics 4 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

University of Rochester REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of University of Rochester?

56 Students rated University of Rochester

Zoe
Prospective04/15/2025

When I visited the University of Rochester, I immediately felt intrigued. What stood out most to me was the flexible curriculum. As someone with a wide range of interests—especially in medicine, music, languages, and sports—I loved learning that I wouldn’t be boxed into strict general education requirements. Instead, I could create a path that’s meaningful to me, connecting science with courses in ethics or psychology while still exploring things outside my major that spark my curiosity. During my visit, I also noticed how the campus felt both supportive and driven. Every student I met seemed passionate—not just about their studies, but about helping each other grow. It was clear that Rochester encourages independence, but never lets you feel alone. Visiting made it real for me. Rochester isn’t just a school that checks the boxes—it’s a place where I know I’d be supported, inspired, pushed, and constantly growing into the best version of myself.

Stephany
05/05/2024

Overall, this school has its mix of good and bad teachers. Classes focus more on research rather than industry, but there are still opportunities to branch out to industry if that's the route you prefer. The dining choices on campus are okay, but dietary restrictions are often hard to accommodate. I came here for the Environmental Science and American Sign Language departments, and I have enjoyed the classes I have taken immensely. Use your classes as stepping stones for internships or REUs, and you will be better set up for the industry after graduation.

Al-Sameer
11/28/2023

I think it’s a really good school. There’s the emphasis of the school’s offerings via activity fair, Blackout (a beginning of the year event showcasing all the minority focused groups), Wilson Day (a day dedicated to being split in groups to do service in the Rochester area), just a bunch of overall school spirit to embrace. I will say I’ve personally experienced inconveniences of being targeted by other students based on my viewpoints and (hopefully not but I’m never sure) race, but thankfully the teachers are there to break it up and never ensure that’s the case. The campus is nice to walk around within, just beware of the snow to take advantage of the tunnel system. The best part are definitely extracurriculars, while underwhelming can appear to be the food a good chunk of the time. The aid is very generous, just be careful not to come without a scholarship already in hand or apply during the year. Overall, I’d recommend the school but you’d really have to come and see the campus for yourself since there’s not much pictures online and most the activity comes from Instagram and such social media.

Michaela
01/18/2023

The University of Rochester is a great academic institution. There are many clubs or activities that students can partake in. It is located in an area that cultivates excellence. There is a hospital nearby where students can take classes, work, or volunteer. Many of the professors also partake in profound research and often need students to help them out.

Danielle
12/13/2021

How do you say you go to a nerd school without saying you go to a nerd school? Our best extra curricular are our Quidditch team and six a cappella groups. Our only D1 sport is squash. People know every nook of the library but not how to find the football field. I more often hear conversations about computer science projects than parties. But seriously, the students here are passionate about their interests and are driven to pursue them, and they're in an environment that allows them to. No required classes (seriously, check the curriculum!) means individuals can explore what they're interested in and everyone in your classes really wants to be there—they chose to be! If you're that student who's always a little more enthusiastic about school than everyone else and has multiple interests you want to explore in depth, this is a school for you. It certainly was for me!

JU
02/16/2021

After one month of the deadline for applying to the PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies, when they were supposed to the assessing the applications submitted, they send a general email informing they won't be enrolling new students for the program this year. No apologies. Just a refund of the admission fee. This shows how disorganized they are and how little they care about applicants who put a lot more that money in the application process. Who will refund the time and effort?

Tori
12/10/2020

I like it

Lexa
10/26/2020

The Eastman School of Music is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. It was pricey when I was there and now room board and tuition are approaching $80, 000 a year. I would recommend anyone applying for a performance degree to do your homework and research on what Eastman graduates are doing professionally and who’s studios they come from. I transferred out of Eastman after my sophomore year for a number of reasons. The TA of my studio told me that the Dean of the School was putting lots of pressure on faculty to accept students who were not really musically skilled or talented but whose parents were rich and could either pay full tuition or a large percentage of it. This disgusted me but didn’t really surprise me. Among my classmates there were some isolated inspiring musicians but also a lot who I did not respect. It’s a mixed bag; a few of the studios have somewhat of a good track record in career placement but many of them do not. Unfortunately that was the case with my studio. I was interested in getting training to be a performer and sadly after getting to Eastman I found out that not that many people who had graduated from my studio were actually getting jobs. When I heard how much some of my classmates were paying in student loans after graduating it shocked me. Before applying to Eastman make sure to do your research because depending on what instrument you play and what teacher you get you may not have much of a chance at actually getting the training you’ll need to get a job as a performer and you may be facing a mountain of debt after you get out. The school will not tell you this up front because they have put their price tag so high that they really are more concerned about getting your money than how your career will turn out.

chelsea
07/17/2020

A great school academically, but could work on advocating for their marginalized students and actively listening to their requests. A lot of the professors are also white, which I think might turn a lot of minorities away. Students are more inclined to participate in activities and certain majors where they can visualize someone who looks like them. This is why representation has always mattered.

Grace
06/18/2020

The University of Rochester is a top-tier research university and ranks within the Top 30 in the United States on a consistent basis. The academic programs cannot be beaten. Just this spring semester alone, I have taken classes with a Grammy Award-winning Audio Engineer, a multi-published professor who constantly fights for the higher-education of formerly incarcerated persons, and a seasoned professional actress. The study spaces on campus have the highest level of technology readily available for student use. The food is fantastic, for the most part, but can difficult for those with dietary restrictions. My freshman dorm was conveniently located on campus and included both a campus market and a dining hall on the first floor. The majority of students are highly motivated academically, yet still find time to join music ensembles, club sports, theatrical productions, and Greek Life. The University of Rochester could definitely do better in terms of financial aid offerings vs. the cost of attendance. As a middle-class student, it has been a very large hit, and was something that was nearly the deciding factor in my college decision. While it is still a challenge, I have been working both on-campus during the semesters, and at home during breaks in order to put myself in the best place financially upon graduating.

Rodney
06/10/2020

Its overall a great school, I was apart of the Eastman summer camp and it was a amazing time. I would have loved if there was more diversity. I believe its important to be around or see people who are your race. The lack of diversity is what's making me ponder on whether i should apply or not. Other than that, the faculty is outstanding.

Olufemi
03/15/2020

I graduated from University of Rochester in 2013 and I had a wonderful educational and extra curricular experience. I was able to create my own major and study things that set me up for a career journey that has been anything but mundane. As well as with extra curricular experiences that have allowed for me to be prepared for experiences in my professional personal life that were invaluable and I could have never learned in a classroom.

Keyme
02/05/2020

he U of R also gave me important life skills such as advocating for myself and being aware of the people and my surroundings. My favorite part about my summer was taking the Audio engineering class because I learned how to create mixtapes for my own music as if I was a producer in a studio working with an artist. I also enjoyed the Medical Mystery class because I learned how to do CPR, do stitches on a banana and I Learned how to assess how critical a person is if there was any kind of accident or danger. These are skills that are helping me to become a better person who has discovered a new interest that I never thought I would be interested in. Thanks to this opportunity I learned what I am looking for in a college and what I can expect during my college career.

Rusama
02/04/2020

My freshman year at UofR has been extremely enriching and fulfilling. I've met people from all walks of life and had the opportunity to be exposed to an amazing network of alumni and professors. I enjoy living on campus, even though the Rochester area isn't the most vibrant, yet the campus life keeps you busy enough.

Julianna
12/06/2019

Overall, Rochester is a good school. There are always activities on campus, and there are great opportunities for tutoring and learning outside of class. My main critiques are that the bigger and better dining hall is closed on the weekends, and some of the dorms aren't ideal.

University of Rochester FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at University of Rochester?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Rochester is 35%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would give myself advice to study a lot more, try for even more scholarships, and also to be much more active in my highschool year.

    Read all 91 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates were great. While most of my friends came from outside of my classes, I always felt a part of the class. My classes were small enough that you knew everyone on a first name basis by about the third week, and often you got to know some better than others through project or similar research interests.

    Read all 74 answers

  4. What are the academics like at your school?

    there is a great variety of large, medium, and small class sizes. i've taken some typical college intro classes in large lecture halls with 200 or so people, and i've also taken smaller lecture/discussion based classes with 30 people. both of them suit their purposes. while rochester is definitely known for the sciences, i am not a science major and have taken some great classes. my favorite class was a european history course; the professor was incredible, gave great lectures, assigned interesting readings, and kept the class captivated for the entire semester. there are some lacking departments (apparently our economics department is ranked highly, but the professors that i've had are very below average). i do really like the academic freedom at rochester, which you will probably hear about over and over if you are interested in rochester. when i came on to campus, i really didn't know what i wanted to study, and the great variety of classes and minimal requirements gave me the ability to try out many different subjects to see what i liked. depending on what major people have, they may be very driven and focused on getting a job (pre-med, engineers), but not everyone is like that at all.

    Read all 64 answers

  5. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Overall, i am very pleased with my first year at rochester. it is just the right size (around 4500 or so i believe): its easy to get around without being overwhelmed and i am constantly meeting new people, but its also easy to get settled down and find a niche. the best thing about rochester is the people. the average rochester student is generally friendly and not not cocky/egotistical or too shy. there isn't a whole lot of geographic diversity (most people are from new york and the northeast), but there are many different kinds of people to meet from various socioeconomic backgrounds, and they make living on campus a great experience. the school is also very "middle-of-the-road." by this i mean that its not really known for having just one characterization, the students aren't over the top in regard to personality/appearance/ideologies/etc, and the academics are great but the school isn't that well known outside of the state. the city of rochester isn't much of a college town, but there are some nice areas to live off campus and there are plenty of night time hot spots, but a lot goes on on campus and many upperclassmen choose to live on campus all 4 years. there might not be a whole lot of "school pride" as its normally thought of in terms of loud sporting events, but generally everyone at school is very proud of where they are and it shows with other events on campus.

    Read all 61 answers

  6. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    there are a great number of student groups on campus, and generally, most of students' social lives revolve around the groups that they are involved with. for the most part, though this is not entirely true, the most socially active people are those that are involved in greek life or those that are on a sports team. of course this is just a sweeping generalization and i have friends that love to go out as much as i do that are not involved in either of those groups. over the past few years, fraternity popularity has gone down for some reason (new membership went down significantly this past year compared to other years... it could be due to people finding other social avenues or just the types of people being admitted to rochester have changed over the years/gotten more competitive). the administration is definitely cracking down on fraternities, and i keep hearing stories about "how much better this event used to be before the administration started being so strict about it." i am a new fraternity member and i really enjoy it. it has helped me meet new people and is continually a source of fun. sorority popularity/numbers are still relatively high. greeks are not exclusive at all; many of my friends are not involved with greek life and it doesn't hold me back from making new friends outside of the frat house. if people "go out," its usually to the frat quad or to bar nights ("bar nights" take place at bars/clubs, are hosted by some campus organization, and are usually over/under. these are usually very popular and there is 1 or 2 per week during the week on a tuesday or thursday). the social life is not fantastic compared to other huge party schools, but if i wanted a huge party school, i wouldn't be at rochester in he first place. the social life is what you make of it, and i manage to have a good time just about all the time. one great thing about rochester that i really liked is that adjusting to college early freshman year was not as hard as it could have been because all of the freshman live in the same freshman-only buildings and the school makes an effort to force you to meet other people. my best friends are from my freshman floor and in the fraternity that i joined, and i spend a lot of time with both.

    Read all 56 answers

  7. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Rochester is stereotyped as being a research school which is somewhat true, but not like you probably envision. Rochester students are stereotyped as nerdy which is also overblown.

    Read all 53 answers

  8. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    its probably accurate for probably about half of the student body, but i know a large number of counterexamples

    Read all 51 answers

  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    There was a flexible curriculum allowing you to take classes you were interested in rather than required courses. The campus was beautiful also isolated from the city with beautiful scenery and bike trails and a river for the crew team. Yet the campus was a short distance from the city's best attractions.

    Read all 37 answers

  10. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    Before attending college, I wish I had been told that every obstacle in college is a challenge to prepare and strengthen me for life after college. A student who does not experience academic or social obstacles will not get the most out of college. Overcoming obstacles is an essential experience that one needs to experience in life in order to develop personally and mentally.

    Read all 23 answers

  11. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing is that students can pick whatever classes they want to and aren't forced into classes they don't want to take.

    Read all 20 answers

  12. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    My school has an extremely welcoming environment that provides ambitious students with the necessary tools they need to succeed.

    Read all 18 answers

  13. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Freshman weeder courses can be frustrating. While not exactly labeled as "weeder," they have a tendency to annoy many students out of a particular field. We don't like being taught that everything we've ever learned in Biology is wrong. Some professors also tend to ask some off the wall questions during tests that nobody has a clue how to answer, so watch out.

    Read all 15 answers

  14. What kind of person should attend this school?

    1) Would-be natural scientists, mathetmaticans, social scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, and anyone else who sees a strong program here that matches their interests. 2) Anyone interested in the extreme flexibility offered by the lack of general education requirements - double majors are generally easy to do and triple majors are much more feasible than they are at other schools of similar caliber.

    Read all 15 answers

  15. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    The University of Rochester is probably best known for its music and medical programs. The Eastman School of Music is well known across the country for its extensive programs, knowledgeable faculty, and opportunities to fully develop the musical gifts of undergraduates. The medical school is also fairly well known, especially in the greater Rochester area, because it has connections to the Strong Memorial Hospital.

    Read all 14 answers

  16. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Jocks, people who want to be able to party more than two nights a week, visual artists, extremely conservative religious people, anyone desiring less than 50 people in their non-humanities classes, anyone desiring a high degree of ethnic diversity (while the UR undergrad population contains many East Asians and South Asians, Hispanics and blacks are sorely missing and the East Asian population keeps mostly to itself), anyone who dislikes gray and rainy/snowy weather 2/3 of their academic year, and anyone who wants a school with popular sporting events.

    Read all 14 answers

  17. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The stereotype is that the students at U of R are socially awkward. In fact, we were ranked one of the most socially awkward Universities in the nation. I would say that the stereotype is fairly accurate. The vast majority of students are socially awkward and do not do much partying. There is a vocal minority, however, which creates what little social scene we do have at the University. Greek life is pretty much the only thing keeping that social aspect of student life afloat.

    Read all 13 answers

  18. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    It is a toss up between social life and the imbalance between practical program funding (pre med, engineering) and funding for programs in the humanities, particularly the arts. It is difficult to feel satisfied with a studio program that is so underfunded, which has a building separate from the academic quad, and which is hardly frequented by the majority of the campus. Social life is also lacking, as the area around the university is usually dead, with little to do off campus at night, and very cold weather.

    Read all 11 answers

  19. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    We have the most awesome study areas!

    Read all 9 answers

  20. What are your classes like?

    current science and technology research happening at Rochester

    Read all 4 answers

  21. Describe the dorms.

    Take the first leg of our dorm tour as we introduce you to the Freshman dormitories

    Read all 3 answers

Student Body

Students

50%

female

50%

male

6,386

Total Undergrad Enrollment

4,823

Total Grad Students

43%

Out-Of-State

26%

In-State

31%

International

Organizations

250

Student Organizations

16

Fraternities

15

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

38%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
11%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
47%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

90% of students attending University of Rochester receive some sort of financial aid. 20% were awarded federal grants.48%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$50,142

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,310

Books and Supplies

$14,890

Room and Board

66,342

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$12,725
$30 - $48K
$16,035
$48 - $75K
$21,943
$75 - $110K
$27,460
$110K & UP
$39,933

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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