University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Kansas — 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 Kansas
KANSAS
Lawrence, KS
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance93.5%
Median SAT1190
Graduation rate68.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester University of Kansas
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#127 Rank · THE —
40.1% Acceptance rate 93.5%
1488 Median SAT 1190
85.4% Graduation rate 68.8%
11,946 Enrollment 29,792

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 93.5%
15.4% Yield rate 25.5%
1488 Median SAT 1190
3.70 Avg. GPA 3.70
21,384 Number of applications 22,363
37% Int'l students 7%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $62K
$74K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $59K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $88K
85.4% Graduation rate 68.8%
90.7% Retention rate 86%
$21,000 Median debt $21,000
$67,080 Tuition · year $30,432
$60,879 Avg. aid package $19,700
96.1% % of need met 78.6%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $27,212
$50 Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Rochester leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$60,879 vs $19,700
Acceptance40.1% vs 93.5%
Tuition$67,080 vs $30,432

EXPERT TAKE

Rochester is the more selective of the two (40.1% vs 93.5% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Kansas for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rochester is more selective (40.1% vs 93.5% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $62K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 68.8%).

Cost and aid

Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $67,080); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $19,700).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester Kansas
World rank · ARWU#151-200#301-400
Rank · THE#127—
Acceptance rate40.1%93.5%
Yield rate15.4%25.5%
Median SAT14881190
Avg. GPA3.703.70
Number of applications21,38422,363
International students37%7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$62K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$74K$59K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$88K
Graduation rate85.4%68.8%
Retention rate90.7%86%
Median debt$21,000$21,000
Tuition · year$67,080$30,432
Avg. aid package$60,879$19,700
% of need met96.1%78.6%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$27,212
Application fee$50$40
Enrollment11,94629,792

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or Kansas?

It's harder to get into Rochester. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.5%.

Do Rochester or Kansas graduates earn more?

Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $62K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs Kansas?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $30,432 per year at Kansas.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Kansas?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rochester or Kansas?

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #301-400 for Kansas.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or Kansas?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $19,700 at Kansas.

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.