College Profiles/ University of Rochester
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
University of Rochester Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Rochester, NY · 6,096 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to University of Rochester for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
University of Rochester admitted 41.9% of 21,609 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] Early Decision applicants were admitted at 41.8%.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1400 to 1510.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $96,022.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $67,488.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, Early Decision II Jan 5, Regular Decision Jan 5.[3]
41.9%
Overall admit rate[1]
41.8%
Early Decision admit rate[1]
1400 to 1510
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$96,022
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$67,488
Average need-based grant[1]
$3.8B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
University of Rochester at a Glance
- Location
- Rochester, NY
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 9.7:1[1]
- Endowment
- $3.8 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional[3]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition[3]
- First-year retention
- 90.7%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on University of Rochester
The ConnectPrep take
Rochester is a school where Early Decision barely moves the numbers: 41.8% of 1,129 ED applicants were admitted, against 41.9% overall, about 1.0 times the overall rate. Early pools are self-selected and often include recruited athletes and legacies, so ED here is a statement of commitment, not a shortcut. Rochester reviews holistically and says testing is not always the best reflection of ability, so it is test optional, test flexible, and superscores. Only 15.7% of enrolled students submitted the SAT, and the middle 50% runs 1400 to 1510, so submit at 1455 or higher. Hajim engineering applicants should say so on the application because those programs are highly structured. The mistake we see is skipping the interview. Rochester strongly recommends one, especially for merit scholarships, and RD interviews must happen before Jan 5.
What to do this fall
- Schedule an interview now: by Nov 15 for ED I, and before Jan 5 for Regular Decision.
- Apply by Dec 1 for priority merit scholarship consideration; no extra forms are needed.
- REMS applicants must submit by Nov 15, and the program is not open to international applicants.
- Send an SAT of 1455 or higher, or another accepted exam such as AP or IB scores.
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University of Rochester Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
21,609 |
9,056 |
41.9% |
| Early Decision[1] |
1,129 |
472 |
41.8% |
- Early Decision admits made up about 5% of all admitted students, so a large part of the class is filled before Regular Decision applications are read (ConnectPrep calculation from the figures above).
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 13.6%.[1]
- 1,197 students were offered a waitlist spot, 741 accepted one, and 262 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
680 to 750 |
| SAT Math[1] |
700 to 780 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1400 to 1510 |
| ACT composite[1] |
31 to 34 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
16% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
6% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
3.73 |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
85% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1510 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 34 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1460, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What University of Rochester looks for
In its own words: Rochester uses a holistic review process with many academic and non-academic indicators and aims to enroll a diverse and talented class; it states that testing is not always the best reflection of a student's abilities and potential, so applicants who do not submit scores are not penalized.[5]
University of Rochester Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec (ED I); early Feb (ED II) |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 5 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Jan 5 |
Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from University of Rochester’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Merit scholarships (priority)
Before RD |
Dec 1 |
Apply by Dec 1 for priority merit scholarship consideration (notification late Feb); no extra forms. Eastman dual degree applicants may not be eligible for this priority deadline.[3] |
Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS)
Before RD |
Nov 15 |
REMS application deadline Nov 15, notification mid-Jan; not open to international applicants.[3] |
Admission interview
Before RD |
Before Jan 5 (RD); by Nov 15 (ED I) |
Interviews are strongly recommended, especially for merit scholarships; RD interviews must be scheduled and conducted before the Jan 5 deadline (alumni requests by Jan 7); ED I by Nov 15.[6] |
| FAFSA and CSS Profile (ED) |
Dec 1 (ED) |
ED applicants must submit FAFSA and CSS Profile by Dec 1 for need-based aid.[3] |
See how University of Rochester compares with other colleges in the Northeast deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
University of Rochester Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$96,022 |
| Tuition[2] |
$71,750 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
60.5% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$67,488 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$70,593 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
97.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
260 students, average $16,073 |
residential student: tuition $71,750, fees $1,622, housing $12,822, food $8,506, personal $1,022, transportation $300; books included in tuition via UR Essentials.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $96,022 cost of attendance down to roughly $28,534 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- University of Rochester states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[7]
- International students: Need-based aid offered to international undergraduates.[8]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[9]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$9,678 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$12,185 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$21,087 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$27,883 |
| Over $110,000 |
$46,801 |
| All aided students |
$29,278 |
Academics and Majors at University of Rochester
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Biological/life sciences13%
- Health professions and related programs12%
- Business/marketing11%
- Social sciences10%
- Engineering10%
Signature programs
Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS)
Eight-year BA/BS plus MD program with a conditional guarantee of admission to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and an MCAT exemption; about a 2 percent admission rate; US citizens/permanent residents only.[10]
Rochester Curriculum
No general education requirements: students complete a primary writing course, their major, and clusters in the two divisions outside the major.[11]
Take Five Scholars
Tuition-free fifth year to study an interest outside the major.[11]
Eastman School of Music cross-enrollment
Shuttles connect River Campus and the Eastman School of Music, and undergraduates can cross-enroll in Eastman classes.[11]
Choosing a major and getting in
Applicants to the College (Arts, Sciences and Engineering, including Hajim and Simon) apply to the College and indicate interest; Hajim engineering applicants should say so on the application because those programs are highly structured. Eastman School of Music has separate audition-based admission.[12]
Special admission paths
- Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS) BA/BS-MD (ED Nov 1 or RD Nov 15 deadline for consideration).
- Early Decision I and II.
- Eastman School of Music (audition).
- Take Five Scholars (after enrollment).
University of Rochester Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
90.7% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
83.4% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[9] |
$79,042 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[9] |
$21,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[9] |
17% |
Make University of Rochester a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
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University of Rochester FAQs
What is the University of Rochester acceptance rate?
University of Rochester admitted 41.9% of first-year applicants (9,056 of 21,609), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set. The Early Decision admit rate was 41.8%.
When are the University of Rochester application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 5; Regular Decision Jan 5. 3 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does University of Rochester cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $96,022. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $67,488. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for University of Rochester?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1400 to 1510 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1510, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional.
Is it easier to get into Rochester early decision?
Not by the numbers. Rochester admitted 41.8% of Early Decision applicants compared with 41.9% overall, about 1.0 times the overall rate. That makes ED a way to signal commitment rather than a shortcut. ED I closes Nov 1 and ED II Jan 5, and ED applicants file the FAFSA and CSS Profile by Dec 1.
Is Rochester test optional?
Yes. Rochester is test optional and test flexible, with no penalty for not submitting, and it accepts the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Levels, and other exams. It superscores. The middle 50% SAT among enrolled students is 1400 to 1510. We advise submitting at or above the midpoint, about 1455, and aiming for 1510.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Rochester. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
