Rochester vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Northwestern admits 7.7%, Rochester admits 40.1%.
The more international environment is at Rochester (22.1% international students) than Northwestern (11.8%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Northwestern awards international students $74,103 on average, Rochester awards $41,269.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Northwestern starts at $96,182 against $93,614 and ends at $28,072 against $32,735 (Rochester).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 40.08% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #33). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $79K). Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 vs $70,589 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: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 40.08% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $79K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 85.4%).
Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $60,879).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rochester | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | - |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 49,474 |
| International students | 22.1% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 85.4% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 90.7% | 98% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $70,284 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,879 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 96.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,304 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 11,946 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rochester or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Rochester or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Rochester vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rochester or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rochester or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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