University of Rochester: A Diverse and Dynamic Student Community

Founded in 1850, the University of Rochester stands as a private research university in Western New York, embodying a rich history of enterprise and social justice that permeates the student experience. Its moderate size, coupled with a diverse array of academic and research programs, fosters both individual attention and unparalleled flexibility in undergraduate studies.

A Mission of Learning, Discovery, and Global Betterment

The University's mission is to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create-and Make the World Ever Better. Through individual endeavors and collaborative efforts, students and faculty work toward this goal each day, improving themselves, each other, and their shared learning environment in the process. The University of Rochester operates as both a homebase and launchpad for discovery.

Holistic Admissions and a Test-Optional Philosophy

Admission to the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering is based on a holistic review process that includes a test-optional philosophy. The University considers all elements of a prospective student's application, including their academic achievement, extracurricular engagement, ethical character, and alignment with Rochester's mission and values.

Important application deadlines include November 1 for Early Decision I and January 5 for Regular Decision and Early Decision II for first-year fall admission. The University accepts transfer applications for fall and spring semester on a rolling basis. The recommended deadline for priority consideration is March 15 for students applying for fall semester and October 15 for spring.

Student Body: Diversity in Numbers and Backgrounds

The University of Rochester's student body is a vibrant tapestry of individuals from diverse backgrounds and academic interests. The school attracts students of all ages. The age diversity score this school received indicates it is doing a good job attracting students of all ages. With students and faculty hailing from around the world, diverse perspectives characterize all aspects of life on campus.

Geographic Diversity

The University of Rochester ranks 75 out of 2,183 when it comes to geographic diversity. A significant portion of the student population comes from outside New York State, with 61.8% originating from out of state and 30.25% coming from out of the country. The undergraduate student body represents 47 states (may include Washington D.C.).

Race and Ethnicity

The enrolled student population at University of Rochester, both undergraduate and graduate, is 36.9% White, 12.8% Asian, 6.74% Hispanic or Latino, 4.67% Black or African American, 3.15% Two or More Races, 0.14% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0822% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Gender Distribution

In 2023, 4,369 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Rochester. 55.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.8% awarded men.

Academic Flexibility and Rigor

The University of Rochester's unique undergraduate curriculum lets students take control of their education from day one. With no general education requirements and no traditional "core" curriculum, students get to curate their own program of study. This flexible curriculum allows students to delve into existing academic interests while affording plenty of time to explore new passions. A testament to this flexibility, 45% of undergraduate students graduate with double majors.

Rochester "does not require general education classes, but instead encourages students to pursue their passions through the cluster system," which groups classes together in divisions of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Engineering. While the programs offer flexibility, the academic requirements are demanding, but regardless of field of study, "tutoring services, [the] University Counseling Center, and staff [who] focus on creating a supportive environment" are always available.

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Faculty also play an important role here with professors who are "really knowledgeable and passionate" about what they're teaching. The University of Rochester offers Bachelor of Arts and/or Bachelor of Science programs through the College. Available majors include Applied Music, Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media, Music Composition, Music Education, and Music Theory. The College offers certificate programs in Actuarial Studies, Biotechnology, Literary Translation Studies, Mathematical Modeling in Political Science and Economics, and Stage Management.

The only required undergraduate course is the first-year writing seminar. In lieu of a core curriculum, undergraduates complete coursework in each of three disciplines: humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students choose a major, consisting of more than ten courses, and a cluster, consisting of three related courses. The student must ensure at least a cluster is met in each discipline; however, second majors and minors are often used to fulfill these requirements.

Campus Life: Traditions, Activities, and Support

Rochester offers more than 250 student-run clubs, an extensive athletic center, and nightly events; the University of Rochester's River Campus rarely slows down. With student organizations ranging from cultural and political to religious and athletic, students at Rochester can easily find communities of friends who share their interests and passions. Part of what makes the student experience so fun is the variety of rich traditions on campus. This includes Meliora Weekend for students and alumni, Dandelion Day and Springfest, the annual medieval-style celebration Boar's Head Dinner, and Wilson Day community service during first-year Orientation.

Diversity is key at UR, "both [in] background and academic interests." As one student states, "In my class alone, 46 percent of us are international students." Those different backgrounds branch into an even wider range of activities. "Some [students] are filmmakers, some are dancers, some love sailing, some love art. Everyone has their own passions," another student describes.

Support Services

UR suicide prevention (similar to Campus Connect model) is available for all students, faculty & staff, and as a booster training. Training offered in suicide prevention and general mental health support for residential life staff during orientation. The Mindful University Project is a campus-wide initiative with a mission to empower our campus community to build a culture of mindful presence and compassion.

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Location and Campus Environment

Known by many names the Flower City, the ROC, the 5-8-5 Rochester is located in Western New York. We're closer to Toronto than to New York City, although both are within driving distance. From our historic museums to our internationally recognized festivals, Rochester has the big-city culture with the small-town charm. Roughly two miles from downtown along the Genesee River, the University of Rochester's 154-acre River Campus the University's main academic campus is home to roughly 6,500 undergraduate and 5,200 graduate students.

The River Campus is in a bend of the Genesee River about 2 miles (3 km) south of downtown Rochester and covers around 200 acres (81 ha). It is bounded by Bausch & Lomb Riverside Park, an 18-acre (7.3 ha) public park along the east bank of the Genesee River formerly known as the Olmstead River Walk, and Mount Hope Cemetery, where the grave sites of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass can be found.

The First-Year Quad is home to Gilbert, Hoeing, Lovejoy, and Tiernan Halls which follow traditional corridor-style housing. There are many additional options for upperclassmen including traditional-style rooms, suites, and apartments on campus. Most students chose to live on campus for all four years of their college experience.

River Campus is home to a number of student exhibition spaces. The AsIs Gallery in the Sage Art Center showcases rotating exhibitions of student works from studio classes at U of R. As a work-in-progress critique space, this exhibition space provides students the opportunity to develop their work in a semi-professional space. The Gallery at the Art and Music Library features work from students and local artists in the highly trafficked Rush Rhees Art and Music Library. Hartnett Gallery, in Wilson Commons, is a student-supported gallery that showcases international and professional contemporary artists as well as an annual juried student exhibition. The pasSAGE is an annex of the Sage Art Center which features a long-term exhibition selected by a faculty committee.

Campus Culture

University of Rochester is "very much an academically driven institution," and course work is the top priority. But as one student says, "The weekend [is] when most people fill their days with different activities." One such activity that many students rave about is movie night: "School movie nights are [the] best school-provided weekend activity." Athletics are, of course, present, but as one student notes, "Rochester varsity sports are not very competitive, [however]…a lot of people…do club sports." Other students mention weekend hikes, dance groups, plays and recitals.

One thing to contend with at Rochester is the long winter; as some students put it, it's "winter 90 percent of the time." Both the school and students have adapted, and one student offers assurances that Rochester has "established a tunnel system which provides convenience." Dining halls on campus also provide comfort, and anyone looking for a tasty bite to eat can rest easy: "There are a bunch of places to eat on campus." Another way to socialize on campus is through Greek life, but even that is "not as fratty" as you'd expect. As for parties? "There is not a huge party scene on campus, but it's there if you want it," claims one Yellowjacket. Off-campus activities are plentiful, "if you have a car." Otherwise, students rely on the shuttle system.

Transportation

Greater Rochester International Airport is 2 miles from campus. Taxis are available at the airport for the drive to campus.

Financial Aid and Career Support

Academic merit scholarships, loans, grants, tuition payment plans, and part-time jobs all contribute to the University of Rochester's strong financial assistance program. Merit scholarships are awarded to eligible incoming undergraduate students. Candidates are considered based upon their application for admissions, reviewing academic performance, involvement, and leadership. Although separate applications are not required, students should be aware of earlier deadlines that may apply. Merit scholarships are awarded regardless of financial need.

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Rochester is $63,150, which is $32,147 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $40,900. In 2023, 69% of undergraduate students attending University of Rochester received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 40% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

The university’s Greene Center offers a variety of services to help students along their career paths, including drop-in hours (during which students can receive assistance with résumés and general advice), advising appointments, internship and job search strategies, job fairs, and networking events. The school places “a large emphasis on community engaged learning,” and many classes incorporate experiential aspects and trips. Funding is available for all aspects of these opportunities, including skill-building boot camps, cost of living for unpaid summer internships, and creative festivals and residencies. The school also posts college and departmental internships on Handshake; students can also take advantage of The Meliora Collective, the university’s networking platform for connecting with alumni mentors, practicing interviews, and browsing job and internship postings.

This all boosts student confidence in the education they’re receiving. One student shares, “I know when I get out, I’ll be able to get a good job I will academically be prepared for.” The numbers reinforce this sentiment: University of Rochester graduates report a median starting salary of $74,000, and 54 percent receive a high level of meaning from their job, according to Payscale.com.

A Legacy of Research and Innovation

The University of Rochester is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity" and is a member of the Association of American Universities, which emphasizes academic research. Rochester had a research expenditure of $481 million in 2023. Some of the major research centers include the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, a laser-based nuclear fusion facility, and the extensive research facilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Recently, the university has also engaged in a series of new initiatives to expand its programs in biomedical engineering and optics, including the construction of the new $37 million Robert B. Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics.

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