University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs North carolina — 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #35
#127 Rank · THE #70
40.1% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1488 Median SAT 1439
85.4% Graduation rate 91.2%
11,946 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 15.3%
15.4% Yield rate 45.5%
1488 Median SAT 1439
3.70 Avg. GPA 4.50
21,384 Number of applications 66,535
37% Int'l students 9%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$74K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
85.4% Graduation rate 91.2%
90.7% Retention rate 96.6%
$21,000 Median debt $14,000
$67,080 Tuition · year $41,203
$60,879 Avg. aid package $20,705
96.1% % of need met 100%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$50 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Yield15.4% vs 45.5%
Aid$60,879 vs $20,705
Acceptance40.1% vs 15.3%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 40.1% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #35). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 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: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

Choose North carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 40.1% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $72K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $67,080); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester North carolina
World rank · ARWU#151-200#35
Rank · THE#127#70
Acceptance rate40.1%15.3%
Yield rate15.4%45.5%
Median SAT14881439
Avg. GPA3.704.50
Number of applications21,38466,535
International students37%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$74K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$112K
Graduation rate85.4%91.2%
Retention rate90.7%96.6%
Median debt$21,000$14,000
Tuition · year$67,080$41,203
Avg. aid package$60,879$20,705
% of need met96.1%100%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$20,382
Application fee$50$85
Enrollment11,94632,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or North carolina?

It's harder to get into North carolina. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Rochester or North carolina graduates earn more?

Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rochester or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or North carolina?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $20,705 at North carolina.

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.