University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Notre dame — 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 Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1520
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester University of Notre Dame
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#127 Rank · THE —
40.1% Acceptance rate 11.3%
1488 Median SAT 1520
85.4% Graduation rate 95%
11,946 Enrollment 13,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 11.3%
15.4% Yield rate 61.7%
1488 Median SAT 1520
3.70 Avg. GPA —
21,384 Number of applications 29,942
37% Int'l students 13%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $100K
$74K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $98K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $141K
85.4% Graduation rate 95%
90.7% Retention rate 99%
$21,000 Median debt $19,000
$67,080 Tuition · year $65,025
$60,879 Avg. aid package $67,855
96.1% % of need met 100%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $30,400
$50 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Notre dame leads in 11 of 11 measured metrics
Yield15.4% vs 61.7%
Acceptance40.1% vs 11.3%
Earnings$79K vs $100K

EXPERT TAKE

Notre dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 40.1% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K). Notre dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($65,025 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.

Choose Notre dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Notre dame is more selective (11.3% vs 40.1% acceptance); Notre dame has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1488).

Graduate outcomes

Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K); Notre dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

Notre dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($65,025 vs $67,080); Notre dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $60,879).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester Notre dame
World rank · ARWU#151-200#301-400
Rank · THE#127—
Acceptance rate40.1%11.3%
Yield rate15.4%61.7%
Median SAT14881520
Avg. GPA3.70—
Number of applications21,38429,942
International students37%13%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$100K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$74K$98K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$141K
Graduation rate85.4%95%
Retention rate90.7%99%
Median debt$21,000$19,000
Tuition · year$67,080$65,025
Avg. aid package$60,879$67,855
% of need met96.1%100%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$30,400
Application fee$50$85
Enrollment11,94613,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or Notre dame?

It's harder to get into Notre dame. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while Notre dame accepts 11.3%.

Do Rochester or Notre dame graduates earn more?

Notre dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs Notre dame?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $65,025 per year at Notre dame.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Notre dame?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1520 at Notre dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rochester or Notre dame?

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

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or Notre dame?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $67,855 at Notre dame.

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.