Rochester vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Virginia admits 16.8% of applicants, while Rochester admits 40.1%.
The more international environment is at Rochester (22.1% international students) than Virginia (4.9%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Rochester reports aid for international students ($41,269 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Rochester starts at $93,614 against $80,859 and ends at $32,735 against $43,736 (Virginia).
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
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 40.08% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #201-300). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $79K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $70,284 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, a larger aid package.
Choose Virginia 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
Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 40.08% acceptance).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $79K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 85.4%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $70,284); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rochester | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | - |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 58,951 |
| International students | 22.1% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 85.4% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 90.7% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $70,284 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,879 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 96.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,304 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 11,946 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rochester or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Rochester or Virginia graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Rochester vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rochester or Virginia?
Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rochester or Virginia?
The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $37,123 at Virginia.
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