University of Rochester

Rochester is selective but not in the single-digit range: it admitted about 41.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 9,056 of more than 21,600 applicants and enrolling about 1,231 first-years. The review is holistic, with the rigor of your course load, your GPA, extracurriculars, and character all weighed as very important factors.

Enrolled first-years at Rochester report an average high school GPA of about 3.73, so competitive applicants are generally near the top of their class. Among the 32% who reported a class rank, roughly 85% were in the top tenth. There is no hard cutoff, and the rigor of your courses and your academic GPA are both weighed as very important factors.

Yes — a 1500 is solidly competitive, landing just below the 75th-percentile SAT of 1510 for enrolled first-years. The middle 50% scored 1400 to 1510 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT, with a median around 1450. Rochester is test-optional, so a score in this range strengthens an application but is not required.

No. Rochester is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting scores and your application will be reviewed without penalty. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored between 1400 and 1510 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT. Standardized test scores are only a considered factor in the review.

Rochester offers binding Early Decision I and Early Decision II, which together drew 1,129 applications and produced 472 admits — an early-round admit rate of about 42%, in line with the overall 41.9% rate. There is no Early Action plan, so applying ED is the way to signal Rochester as your first choice; demonstrated interest is weighed as an important factor.

Tuition and required fees run about $73,372 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food are added. About 63% of first-years receive need-based aid, the average need-based package is near $63,352, and Rochester meets roughly 96% of demonstrated financial need on average.

The biological sciences are the single most popular field at about 13% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the health professions at 12% and business at 11%. Social sciences, engineering, and psychology round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting Rochester's strong pre-health and research focus alongside its open curriculum.

Yes. Rochester rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review — below academics, extracurriculars, and character, but above standardized test scores, which are only considered. Recommendations and demonstrated interest are also weighed as important, so a specific, well-revised essay is a meaningful place to stand out in a 42%-admit pool.

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