University of Rochester acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Rochester, a private college in New York, reports a 40% acceptance rate and sits in the selective band. In practice that means it admits a minority of applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of Rochester weighs, where it ranks among New York schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1460, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Rochester application deadlines, 2026-27 · University of Rochester supplemental essays, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Rochester?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Rochester?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Rochester, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Rochester?
Your odds at University of Rochester are not the same as its 40% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Rochester in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Rochester hard to get into?
University of Rochester is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 40% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Rochester?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Rochester, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. University of Rochester reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Rochester by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Rochester for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Rochester with a 3.5 GPA and a 1480 SAT?
About 64% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1480 SAT, the middle of University of Rochester's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1540 SAT comes out near 79%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-rochester.
Early Decision, Early Action and the waitlist at University of Rochester
From University of Rochester's own 2025-26 Common Data Set (fall 2025 entering class): sections C1, C2, C21-C22 and D2.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of Rochester?
41.8%. University of Rochester admitted 472 of 1,129 Early Decision applicants for fall 2025, against 41.9% of all 21,609 first-year applicants (University of Rochester's 2025-26 Common Data Set).
Does applying early decision help at University of Rochester?
On the raw numbers, yes: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 41.8% versus about 41.9% for everyone who applied another way, 1x the rate, and Early Decision filled 5.2% of the admitted class. Part of that gap is who applies early (recruited athletes and legacy applicants often do), so it is not all the round itself. Early Decision is binding: apply only if University of Rochester is your clear first choice and the family can commit without comparing aid offers.
How many students get off the waitlist at University of Rochester?
262 for fall 2025. University of Rochester offered 1,197 applicants a waitlist spot, 741 accepted one, and 262 were admitted from it: 35.4% of those who stayed on (University of Rochester's 2025-26 Common Data Set).
What is the transfer acceptance rate at University of Rochester?
37.8%: 306 of 809 transfer applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (University of Rochester's 2025-26 Common Data Set).
Source: University of Rochester Common Data Set 2025-26. Every figure appears verbatim in the document. See how early rounds compare across colleges in the Early Decision rankings.
How to get into University of Rochester
Built from University of Rochester's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of Rochester, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Rochester carries about a 3.56 core GPA and a 1490 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Landing at or above it makes you competitive; the rest of the file decides.
The admitted middle 50% is 1410 to 1540 SAT (31 to 34 ACT). Submit a score at 1475 or higher; below 1410, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Rochester rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm University of Rochester's exact dates at www.rochester.edu.
How many students apply to University of Rochester, and how many get in?
University of Rochester admitted 7,773 of the 21,680 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 35.9%. 1,543 enrolled. Only about 20% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Rochester enrolls about 6,331 undergraduates in total, 53% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Rochester?
Admitted students at University of Rochester post SAT scores of 1410 to 1540 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1488. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 31 to 34. A score above 1540 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1410 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Rochester is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Rochester looks for
What University of Rochester weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of Rochester are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Rochester's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Rochester
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Rochester cost after financial aid?
The full sticker price at University of Rochester (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $85,962 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $67,080. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,278 a year, and it ranges from $9,678 for families earning under $30,000 to $46,801 for families earning over $110,000. 17% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Rochester graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Median earnings for University of Rochester students ten years after entry are $79,042 ($68,333 at the six-year mark). 85% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 91% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,000; 40% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Rochester compares in New York
University of Rochester ranks #10 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.
Among the 59 New York schools we track, University of Rochester ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Columbia University (4%) and Cornell University (9%) sit nearby, which makes New York a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to University of Rochester
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of Rochester often weigh Clark University, University of Tampa, and Carolina University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Rochester's acceptance rate?
University of Rochester admitted 7,773 of 21,680 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 35.9% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 20% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Rochester?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1410 to 1540 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT. A score above 1540 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Rochester is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Rochester test-optional?
Yes. University of Rochester reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Rochester cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Rochester, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $29,278 a year against a sticker price of about $85,962. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,678 on average.
What do University of Rochester graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Rochester are $79,042 a year among students who received federal aid, and 85% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Rochester value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Rochester weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Rochester consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. University of Rochester's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at University of Rochester?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Rochester specifically.
Is University of Rochester a target or a reach for an average applicant?
For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near University of Rochester's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.