Washington University in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, MO
University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Washington University vs Rochester - US university comparison

Washington University in St. Louis
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
St. Louis, MO
World rank · ARWU#23
Acceptance12.1%
Median SAT1540
Graduation rate94.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$86K
University of Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.08%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Washington University in St. Louis University of Rochester
#23 World rank · ARWU #151-200
#69 Rank · THE #127
12.1% Acceptance rate 40.08%
1540 Median SAT 1470
94.3% Graduation rate 85.4%
16,357 Enrollment 11,946

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

12.1% Acceptance rate 40.08%
46.7% Yield rate 15.4%
1540 Median SAT 1470
4.19 Avg. GPA 3.72
32,754 Number of applications 21,384
9.4% Int'l students 22.1%
$86K Median earnings · 10 yrs $79K
$61K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $50K
$137K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
94.3% Graduation rate 85.4%
95% Retention rate 90.7%
$17,500 Median debt $21,000
$69,594 Tuition · year $70,284
$75,604 Avg. aid package $60,879
100% % of need met 96.1%
$26,666 Avg. graduate debt $32,304
$75 Application fee $50
$68,438 Avg. int'l aid $41,269
At a glance
Washington University leads in 12 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance12.1% vs 40.08%
Yield46.7% vs 15.4%
Aid$75,604 vs $60,879

The verdict, from the data

A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Washington University admits 12.1%, Rochester admits 40.1%.

The share of international students differs sharply: 22.1% (Rochester) against 9.4% (Washington University).

Real money goes to international students at Washington University ($68,438 on average), while Rochester stops at $41,269.

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Washington University starts at $94,289 against $93,614 and ends at $18,685 against $32,735 (Rochester).

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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

Washington University is the more selective of the two (12.1% vs 40.08% acceptance). Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#23 vs #151-200). Washington University graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($86K vs $79K). Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 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 Washington University 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

Admissions

Washington University is more selective (12.1% vs 40.08% acceptance); Washington University has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).

Graduate outcomes

Washington University graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($86K vs $79K); Washington University has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.3% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 vs $70,284); Washington University offers a larger average aid package ($75,604 vs $60,879).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kWashington UniversityRochester TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Washington University and Rochester highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Washington University Rochester
World rank · ARWU#23#151-200
Rank · THE#69#127
Acceptance rate12.1%40.08%
Yield rate46.7%15.4%
Median SAT15401470
Avg. GPA4.193.72
Number of applications32,75421,384
International students9.4%22.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$86K$79K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$61K$50K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$137K$117K
Graduation rate94.3%85.4%
Retention rate95%90.7%
Median debt$17,500$21,000
Tuition · year$69,594$70,284
Avg. aid package$75,604$60,879
% of need met100%96.1%
Avg. graduate debt$26,666$32,304
Application fee$75$50
Enrollment16,35711,946

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Washington University or Rochester?

It's harder to get into Washington University. Washington University accepts 12.1% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.08%.

Do Washington University or Rochester graduates earn more?

Washington University graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $86K vs $79K.

How much is tuition at Washington University vs Rochester?

Sticker-price tuition is $69,594 per year at Washington University and $70,284 per year at Rochester.

What SAT score do you need for Washington University or Rochester?

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Washington University and 1470 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Washington University or Rochester?

Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #23 for Washington University vs #151-200 for Rochester.

Which university offers more financial aid - Washington University or Rochester?

The average aid package is $75,604 at Washington University and $60,879 at Rochester.

Compare Washington University with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins Northwestern North Carolina
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.