University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Central florida — US university comparison

University of Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1488
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1269
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester University of Central Florida
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #401-500
#127 Rank · THE —
40.1% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1488 Median SAT 1269
85.4% Graduation rate 78%
11,946 Enrollment 69,338

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 40.1%
15.4% Yield rate 33.5%
1488 Median SAT 1269
3.70 Avg. GPA 4.20
21,384 Number of applications 55,135
37% Int'l students 5%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$74K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $51K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $86K
85.4% Graduation rate 78%
90.7% Retention rate 92.3%
$21,000 Median debt $18,190
$67,080 Tuition · year $22,467
$60,879 Avg. aid package $11,814
96.1% % of need met 65%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $20,529
$50 Application fee $30
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Central florida leads in 6 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$60,879 vs $11,814
Tuition$67,080 vs $22,467
Yield15.4% vs 33.5%

EXPERT TAKE

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #401-500). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $58K). Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $67,080 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical — the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Rochester for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Central florida for: higher retention, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1269).

Graduate outcomes

Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $58K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 78%).

Cost and aid

Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $67,080); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kRochesterCentral florida TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Rochester and Central florida highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester Central florida
World rank · ARWU#151-200#401-500
Rank · THE#127—
Acceptance rate40.1%40.1%
Yield rate15.4%33.5%
Median SAT14881269
Avg. GPA3.704.20
Number of applications21,38455,135
International students37%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$58K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$74K$51K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$86K
Graduation rate85.4%78%
Retention rate90.7%92.3%
Median debt$21,000$18,190
Tuition · year$67,080$22,467
Avg. aid package$60,879$11,814
% of need met96.1%65%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$20,529
Application fee$50$30
Enrollment11,94669,338

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or Central florida?

It's harder to get into Central florida. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while Central florida accepts 40.1%.

Do Rochester or Central florida graduates earn more?

Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs Central florida?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $22,467 per year at Central florida.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Central florida?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1269 at Central florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rochester or Central florida?

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #401-500 for Central florida.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or Central florida?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $11,814 at Central florida.

Compare Rochester with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.