University of Rochester
A mid-sized research university with no general education requirements, the Eastman School of Music and a national laser lab.
- Acceptance rate
- 42%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
- Students
- 11,211
- 6,096 undergraduates
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 9.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $71,750
- 2026-27
About URochester
The University of Rochester was founded in 1850 and in 1930 moved to its River Campus in a bend of the Genesee River, about two miles south of downtown Rochester, New York. It is a member of the Association of American Universities with 11,211 students in 2025-26, 6,096 of them undergraduates, spread across the School of Arts and Sciences, the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Eastman School of Music, the Simon Business School, the Warner School of Education, and schools of medicine and dentistry and of nursing.
Its defining feature for undergraduates is the Rochester Curriculum: there are no general education requirements or core. Students complete a primary writing requirement, a major in one of three broad areas, and three-course clusters in the other two, which leaves room for double majors, study abroad and research; the university reports that more than 75% of undergraduates do research. The Institute of Optics and the Department of Energy-supported Laboratory for Laser Energetics give Rochester unusual depth in optics and lasers, and Eastman is one of the leading music conservatories in the U.S.
Admission is selective, with a 42% admit rate for fall 2025 and a test-optional policy. Rochester suits curious students who want the resources of a research university on a personal scale, with a 9.7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Meliora
“Ever Better” — university motto
Why students choose URochester
The Rochester Curriculum has no general education requirements: after a writing requirement you choose a major and two three-course clusters from hundreds on offer.
Combined Degree Programs, such as the Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS) program, give two offers of admission from one application.
Undergraduates can take lessons at the Eastman School of Music, and QS ranks Eastman 15th in the world for music.
Rochester says it meets the full demonstrated need of all admitted students regardless of citizenship, with an average need met of 96% in 2025-26.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
9,056 admitted from 21,609 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Fall 2025 admit rates by residency: 50% for New York residents (2,292 of 4,551), 59% for other U.S. applicants (5,311 of 9,060) and 18% for international applicants (1,453 of 7,998). Early decision admitted 472 of 1,129 applicants (42%). For fall 2026 (Class of 2030) the university reports 22,558 applicants, 9,842 admits (44%) and 31% of the entering class enrolled through early decision. The REMS combined medical program admits about 2%.
Typical entry requirements
| International qualifications (test-flexible option) | Two or more results from AP, IB (predicted scores letter from the IB coordinator), A-levels (three to four preferred) or other national secondary exams can replace the SAT or ACT |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS 7.5 · TOEFL iBT 100 Recommended scores: TOEFL iBT 100 (former scale) or 5 on the new scale from January 21, 2026; IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 130. Scores are not superscored. Waivers for native speakers or three years of English-medium high school. Some admits may enter through the English for Academic Purposes Program. |
Deadlines
- Early Decision I Binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Supporting materials by December 1; decisions mid-December; interviews must be completed by November 15.
- Priority scholarship deadline Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Nonbinding; for highest merit scholarship consideration; decisions late February.
- Early Decision II Binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Supporting materials by February 1; decisions early February.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Supporting materials by February 15; decisions by April 1; reply by May 1.
Rochester's dates page (updated September 24, 2026) lists these deadlines without a year; they apply to the current fall 2027 cycle, so ED I and the priority scholarship deadline fall in 2026 and ED II and Regular Decision in 2027. The REMS application deadline is November 15. The CSS Profile fee waiver request for international first-year applicants is due January 15. The latest accepted test dates are October (ACT) and November (SAT) for early decision, December for regular decision.
How to apply
Common App or Coalition for College application ($50 fee, waivable) with school report and counselor recommendation, one teacher recommendation, transcript and mid-year report. Tests optional. An interview is strongly recommended. International applicants also send English test results and either the International Financial Support Form or the CSS Profile.
What admissions looks for
- Rigor of your secondary school record and your GPA, which the CDS rates very important.
- Extracurricular involvement and character or personal qualities, also rated very important.
- Your essays, recommendations, talents and an interview, all rated important; the interview is strongly recommended, especially for merit scholarships.
- Level of interest in Rochester is rated important, while test scores, class rank and first-generation status are considered.
Tips for applying to URochester
- 1 Book an interview early: it counts equally whether with staff, a student or an alumnus, and ED I interviews must happen by November 15.
- 2 Aim for the December 1 priority scholarship deadline if you want the strongest merit consideration without a binding ED commitment.
- 3 Decide your testing approach carefully: once you choose test-flexible and scores are on file, you cannot switch to test-optional after the deadline.
- 4 International students needing aid must submit the CSS Profile; admission is more selective for international applicants with financial need.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Rochester
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Rochester states it meets the full demonstrated need of all admitted students regardless of citizenship; domestic applicants file the FAFSA and CSS Profile, international applicants the CSS Profile. Financial need is a factor in admission for international applicants, and only a small number qualify for need-based aid. All applicants, including international students, are automatically considered for merit scholarships.
- 96%; 2,572 of 2,824 aided students with need had it fully met
- Average share of need met (full-time undergraduates, 2025-26 CDS)
- $63,352 (all full-time undergraduates); $70,593 (first-years)
- Average need-based aid package
- 510, averaging $40,057
- International undergraduates receiving institutional aid
- 41%, average total debt $30,785
- 2025 graduates who borrowed
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Optics (The Institute of Optics)
Where Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou developed the chirped pulse amplification work that won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS)
An eight-year combined BA/BS-MD program with an admit rate of about 2% and a November 15 deadline.
Music at the Eastman School
Ranked 15th in the world for music by QS (2026); non-music majors can take lessons there.
Political Science and Economics
U.S. News ranks Rochester's graduate programs 18th and 27th nationally.
Nursing
The School of Nursing's master's program is ranked 11th by U.S. News (2026).
Research
- The Laboratory for Laser Energetics, a Department of Energy-funded lab on campus, runs the world's largest lasers in academia for fusion and high-energy-density physics research.
- Gerard Mourou and his then student Donna Strickland developed chirped pulse amplification at Rochester, recognized with the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- More than 75% of undergraduates take part in research, across 60+ research centers and institutes.
Schools & faculties
- School of Arts and Sciences
- Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- Eastman School of Music
- Simon Business School
- Warner School of Education and Human Development
- School of Medicine and Dentistry
- School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health
College Scorecard: median earnings of $79,042 ten years after entry (and $68,333 six years after entry) for federally aided students. The university reports 47% of graduates employed and 45% pursuing further study.
Student life
Most students live on the River Campus, a compact campus in a bend of the Genesee River centred on the Eastman Quadrangle and the domed Rush Rhees Library; 71% of students live on campus. There are more than 275 student clubs and organizations, 40+ club sports teams and 23 NCAA Division III varsity teams, the Yellowjackets, who compete mainly in the University Athletic Association and the Liberty League. With 25% of students studying abroad and music lessons available at Eastman, students tend to combine several interests rather than specialise early.
- Rochester Yellowjackets: 23 NCAA Division III varsity teams, competing mainly in the University Athletic Association and the Liberty League.
- 275+ student clubs and organizations and 40+ club sports teams.
- 25% of students study abroad, in 40+ countries.
- 71% of students live on campus.
Housing. 71% of students live on campus, mainly in River Campus residence halls; on-campus housing costs $12,822 and food $8,506 in 2026-27.
Location
Rochester is a mid-sized city in western New York on Lake Ontario. The River Campus sits about two miles south of downtown, while the Eastman School of Music is downtown and the Medical Center is next to the River Campus. The university is the largest private employer in Upstate New York, and students have easy access to the city's arts scene, including the university's Memorial Art Gallery.
Nearest airport: Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
Notable alumni
- SC Steven ChuNobel Prize-winning physicist and U.S. Secretary of Energy; BA in mathematics and BS in physics, 1970
- DS Donna Strickland2018 Nobel Prize in Physics; PhD from the Institute of Optics
- AK Arthur KornbergNobel Prize-winning biochemist; Doctor of Medicine from Rochester, 1941
- RF Renée FlemingOpera soprano; graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music
- MM Mitch MillerRecord producer and host of Sing Along with Mitch; Eastman School of Music graduate
- RF Robert ForsterOscar-nominated actor; BA in psychology
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Rochester acceptance rate?
Rochester admitted 9,056 of 21,609 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 42%. The rate was 18% for international applicants, and early decision admitted 472 of 1,129 applicants.
Is the University of Rochester test optional?
Yes. Rochester is test-optional and test-flexible: you can submit the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-level or other exam results, or no tests at all, without penalty for admission or scholarships.
What are the University of Rochester application deadlines?
Early Decision I is due November 1, 2026, the priority scholarship deadline is December 1, and Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both due January 5, 2027.
Does the University of Rochester give aid to international students?
Yes. Rochester says it meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students regardless of citizenship, and 510 international undergraduates received institutional aid averaging $40,057 in 2025-26. However, need is a factor in admitting international applicants, and all students are considered for merit scholarships.
Does Rochester require an interview?
No, but an interview is strongly recommended, especially for merit scholarships. You can interview virtually, with an alumnus, at events in your area or through InitialView if you live outside the U.S.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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