2024-2025 ADMISSIONS HANDBOOK
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Rochester’s philosophy of holistic and values focused admissions.
The University of Rochester employs a holistic application review process to identify curious, capable and engaged students from across the globe. We seek to understand each applicant’s academic ability, extracurricular engagement, and ethical character in order to determine their ability to improve both their campus and the world around them. We are a diverse institution that values equality of opportunity and honest, respectful examination of ideas. We see young leaders who will celebrate and protect the values of our University and join in making the world ever better.
UNIVERSITY VALUES
MELIORA
We strive to be ever better, for everyone.
EQUITY
We commit to diversity, inclusion, and access.
LEADERSHIP
We take initiative and share responsibility for exemplifying excellence.
INTEGRITY
We conduct ourselves with honesty, dedication, and fairness.
OPENNESS
We embrace freedom of ideas, inquiry, and expression.
RESPECT
We value our differences, our environment, and our individual and collective contributions.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We are each responsible for making our community ever better, through our actions, our words, and our dealings with others.
APPLYING TO ROCHESTER
MYROC ADMISSIONS PORTAL
The Office of Admissions provides and maintains an online portal for each applicant called a MyROC Account. It is through this portal that applicants can monitor their application process, determine what application materials have been received and learn of their admission decision and merit scholarship notifications. Once an application is formally submitted, students will utilize the email they used on their application as their username and create a password to access the portal. It is recommended that students bookmark the MyROC website and access it regularly throughout their admissions and potential enrollment experience with the University of Rochester.
APPLICATION PLATFORMS
The University of Rochester uses both the Common Application and the Coalition for College Application via Scoir. There is no preference as to which to use and equal consideration will be given to either application.
Common Application
The Use of the Common Application is governed by the license agreement for Common Application forms, a copy of which is displayed at commonapp. org. Please read this agreement carefully before using the Common Application. Be sure to complete the University of Rochester specific questions on the Common Application.
Coalition for College Application
The use of the Coalition for College platform is provided specifically through Scoir. Students may either utilize their already existing Scoir account or create a new account and start their application at the same time. Students with an existing Scoir account can begin their application through the standard Scoir login page at app.scoir.com/signin.
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Students who are interested in studying solely at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music for a Bachelor of Music degree must apply directly through the Eastman application. The Eastman School does not utilize either the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application. Students applying to our Dual Degree Eastman (DDE) program must apply to both the Eastman School via their application and separately to the River Campus via either the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application.
APPLICATION FEE
A non-refundable $50 application fee is required electronically at the time of application submission. The Office of Admissions provides a number of application feewaivers and maintains a complete list on both the Common Application and the Coalition for College Application. If you have a College Board or NACAC fee waiver, you can note this on your application in order to have your payment waived.
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS
All applicants are required to submit a complete secondary school / high school transcript, including all grades and course listings from their time in high school (as determined by their national educational system). In the case of a student attending multiple schools, all years must be provided. Transcripts must be submitted directly though the Common Application or Coalition / Scoir Application portal. The Office of Admissions will not process documents submitted via email from another party.
Mid-Year Transcript/Report
A request will be sent mid-year (senior year) for your school to submit a Mid-Year Transcript. In some instances, schools will not send the report, but will only send the mid-year transcript, which is sufficient. This additional information will be added to your application and can be used in the academic review of your application.
Final Year Transcript / Report
(Required of all enrolling students)
All enrolling students must submit their final official high school transcript, which must include a formal graduation date. In some instances, schools will not send the report, but will only send the final year transcript, which is sufficient. A GED is accepted in lieu of a diploma. The Office of Admissions will add this document to your application and evaluate your final transcript as a final stage in our admissions enrollment process. It is expected that students will maintain a level of academic performance during the final stages of their senior year of secondary school, which mirrors that which they were admitted under. Failure to submit an official final transcript may jeopardize your enrollment to the University.
AP/IB Credit Policy
The College allows students to use examination scores form various programs for credit toward their
degree and/or placement in more advance courses in that subject area. A Maximum of 16 credits from examinations may be applied toward the overall credits required for graduation. Detailed information about our policies can be found at rochester.edu/ college/ccas/handbook/credit-by-exam.html
TESTING POLICY & DEADLINES
The Office of Admissions employs a holistic review process that incorporates a variety of factors, including many kinds of academic records. As we seek to enroll a diverse and talented class each year, our review procedures allow for students to demonstrate readiness through a test optional policy throughout all phases of our admission and merit-based scholarship process.
At the time of applying, applicants may decide for themselves which exam, if any, is an accurate representation of their ability and potential for future success. Applicants must indicate on their application if they wish to have exams included in their application review. Students may change their desired approach to testing up to the application deadline for the application plan to which they have applied.
Students applying Early Decision I should plan to take the SAT / ACT no later than November of your senior year. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants should plan to take their SAT / ACT no later than December of your senior year to ensure these scores can be included in your application review. Tests taken after these dates may not be included in your application review.
A full description of our testing policy can be found online at admissions.rochester.edu/applying/ testing-policies.
ACT / SAT TESTING DEADLINES
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Applicants are required to have their school counselor (or designated school official) fill out the School Counselor Report available through the Common Application or Coalition for College Application.
In many instances your counselor will also write a recommendation on your behalf. In an instance where a school counselor has a large student caseload and is not able to provide a letter, the School Counselor Report form is sufficient as a recommendation. Recommenders should submit their recommendation through the appropriate application platform portal, as the Office of Admissions will not process documents submitted via email or post.
Applicants are required to submit one additional letter of recommendation from a teacher or academic source. In an instance where no school counselor recommendation is provided, an additional academic recommendation may be submitted. Please note we do not require additional letters of recommendation beyond those stated above. We realize many students may want to have additional recommendations submitted on their behalf and these can be added to your file, however our application review will focus on a school counselor and one teacher recommendation.
DEMONSTRATED INTEREST/UNDERSTANDING
The Office of Admissions values the opportunity to connect with students and their families throughout the admission and enrollment process with the University of Rochester. The ability to understand a student’s individual experience, context and understanding of the University of Rochester is a component of our application process, however it is considered within the individual student’s life experience and context.
Admissions interviews are typically available to prospective students and applicants throughout their senior year of high school from June-February. These informational interviews are an opportunity to meet one on one with either an admissions counselor, senior student interviewer or alumni volunteers. In some instances, these are conducted virtually. All interviews are viewed equally regardless of who is conducting the interview. Interviews are not a required component of our admissions process but are strongly recommended. Please note the following admission interview deadlines.
• Early Decision I – Interviews must be conducted by the November 1st application deadline.
• Early Decision II – Interviews must be conducted by the January 5th application deadline.
• Regular Decision – Interviews must be scheduled or requested by the January 5th application deadline.
• Transfer applicants should complete an interview by the time you complete the application or shortly after to ensure it can be included in our review.
OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS ITEMS
Many students may want to add additional or supplemental items to their application that they feel reflect their academic and/or artistic curiosity that is central to who they are as an individual. These items may include (but are not limited to) art supplements and research abstracts. These items must be uploaded to your application through your MyROC account after the application for admission is submitted. Please note that any supplemental item should include a specific description of what it is and your direct involvement in its creation. Supplemental items described above will not be received via email or postal mail.
Family/Peer Recommendation
To learn more about an applicant’s personal qualities, core values and characteristics the Office of Admissions provides students the opportunity to submit an optional family or community member recommendation.
APPLICATION PLANS & DEADLINES
The University of Rochester provides several application plans for applicants. Each plan has a specific timeline and policies to be aware of.
Early Decision I
• November 1 Application Deadline
• Applicants applying Early Decision must submit an Early Decision Agreement form, which is signed by the applicant, the applicant’s parent/guardian and the school counselor. It’s important to note that students who are admitted to the University of Rochester through Early Decision are expected to enroll and immediately withdraw any other college applications that they may have submitted. The University of Rochester meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including Early Decision, and therefore students may not be released from their Early Decision Agreement for financial reasons.
• Students considering the Early Decision admissions plan should take advantage of our online financial aid tools to determine potential eligibility. Additionally, it’s encouraged for families to connect with our Financial Aid Office to have any need-based aid questions answered in advance of submitting an Early Decision application.
• Early Decision applicants receive the same consideration for financial aid and merit scholarships as Regular Decision applicants and are encouraged to use our in-depth cost
calculators in advance to help determine if Early Decision is a viable option. Rochester meets full demonstrated need (as assessed by the CSS Profile form) for all admitted students who apply for need-based aid.
• To ensure the application can be reviewed completely the application should be completed (including all supplemental materials) by December 1.
Early Decision II
• January 5 Application Deadline
• Early Decision II is available for students who identify the University of Rochester as their first choice and wish to have additional time to submit their application.
• Applicants applying Early Decision II must submit an Early Decision Agreement form, which is signed by the applicant, the applicant’s parent / guardian and the school counselor. It’s important to note that students who are admitted to the University of Rochester are expected to enroll and immediately withdraw any other college applications that they may have submitted. The University of Rochester meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including Early Decision, and therefore students may not be released from their Early Decision Agreement for financial reasons.
• Early Decision applicants receive the same consideration for financial aid and merit scholarships as Regular Decision applicants and are encouraged to use our in-depth cost calculators in advance to help determine if Early Decision is a viable option. Rochester meets full demonstrated need (as assessed by the CSS Profile form) for all admitted students who apply for need-based aid.
• To ensure the application can be reviewed completely the application should be completed (including all supplemental materials) by February 1.
Regular Decision
• January 5 Application Deadline
• Applicants wishing to maximize their opportunity to receive merit-based financial awards should apply by December 1.
• Applicants applying Regular Decision have until May 1 of their senior year to enroll at the University of Rochester if admitted.
• To ensure the application can be reviewed completely the application should be completed (including all supplemental materials) by February 15.
APPLICATION DECISIONS
Applying our holistic application review for each applicant, the Office of Admissions will provide an official admission decision, and release those decisions at specific times throughout the admission cycle.
• Early Decision applicants may be admitted, denied or in limited cases deferred to Regular Decision.
• In the case of a deferred decision, applicants will be re-reviewed within the context of the Regular Decision application pool. Additional information, such as updated grades, may be used to render a final decision. Early Decision applicants who are deferred to Regular Decision are no longer held to the Early Decision Agreement.
• Regular Decision applicants may be admitted, denied or placed on our wait list. Students who are admitted have until May 1 to submit their enrollment deposit and confirm their place in the enrolling class (note that housing is guaranteed for all first-year enrolling students).
• Transfer applicants may be admitted or denied. There is no wait list for transfer applicants. With rolling admissions, admitted students will have different deadlines specified in their decision letter and are generally 4 weeks from the offer.
Students who are offered a place on our wait list have the opportunity to accept their offer to remain on the wait list until May 1. Choosing to be on our wait list does not require a deposit and is simply a way for the student to convey that the University of Rochester remains a high priority for their post-secondary plans. Students have an opportunity to be considered for an entrance term of the fall or the spring semester. Each year we admit a few students for a January start (spring semester) as a first-year student if their university enrollment is flexible, but the majority of students admitted from the wait list will be for the fall semester.
Decision Appeals
Each year the University of Rochester receives many well-qualified applicants for a limited number of enrolling spots. As a result, we do not entertain requests to appeal an official admissions decision.
FIRST-YEAR APPLICATION DEADLINES
*To be given highest scholarship consideration, please send all application documents to Rochester by December 1
TRANSFER APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall Semester March 15 (for priority consideration)
Spring Semester October 15 (for priority consideration)
Rolling basis (March - June)
3-4 weeks (date in decision letter)
Rolling basis (Oct. - early Dec.) 3-4 weeks (date in decision letter)
*To ensure the transfer application can be reviewed, the application should be completed (including all supplemental materials) by June 20 for Fall and December 4 for Spring.
COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM (CDP) PROCESS
The University of Rochester offers several opportunities to pursue both undergraduate and graduate studies in a number of different areas, or the chance to pursue degrees in two different colleges. Applicants considering CDPs should take note of the specific deadlines and application round options for each program.
Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS)
• November 15 application deadline.
• By indicating an interest to apply to REMS, applicants will be required to answer a supplemental essay prompt outlining their interest in the medical field.
• REMS applicants will be notified of their status in late-January. Students selected as finalists will be required to attend an interview event in February. Final REMS decisions will be released by April 1.
• Applicants not selected as finalists must opt-in to the general admission process in order to be considered for admission to The College.
• Students interested in applying under Early Decision may still apply for REMS, however acceptance of our ED admissions offer is not contingent upon your admission to REMS program. ED admits not selected as finalists do not need to opt-in.
• Consistent with the policy of the School of Medicine & Dentistry (SMD), the REMS program is designed specifically for U.S. citizens, and/ or students who have US permanent residency or asylee status. International students are not eligible for REMS consideration.
• REMS is not available for students applying as a transfer student.
Graduate Engineering at Rochester (GEAR)
• Application deadline is consistent with the application round (ED I, ED II, RD) for which you are applying to the College.
• By indicating your interest to apply to GEAR, applicants will be required to answer a supplemental essay prompt outlining their interest in Engineering and Applied Science.
• GEAR applicants will be notified of their invitation to join this selective academic community along with their formal admission to the College.
Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree Education (GRADE)
• Application deadline is consistent with the application round (ED I, ED II, RD) for which you are applying to the College.
• By indicating your interest to apply to GRADE, applicants will be required to answer a supplemental essay prompt outlining their interest in the field of education.
• GRADE applicants will be notified of their invitation to join this selective academic community along with their formal admission to the College.
Health and Epidemiology Advanced Learning (HEAL)
• Application deadline is consistent with the application round (ED I, ED II, RD) for which you are applying to the College.
• By indicating your interest to apply to HEAL, applicants will be required to answer a supplemental essay prompt outlining their interest in the field of public health.
• HEAL applicants will be notified of their invitation to join this selective academic community along with their formal admission to the College.
Dual Degree at Eastman (DDE)
• January 5th application deadline.
• Applicants must complete two separate applications: one for The College and one for Eastman School of Music. Note the Eastman School of Music has an internal application and does not utilize the Common Application or Coalition for College Application. They must also indicate their interest in DDE on the Common Application or Coalition for College Application.
Depending on the applicants intended area of interest, a pre-screening audition may be required by Eastman.
• Students interested in applying under Early Decision to The College may still apply for DDE, however acceptance of our ED admissions offer is not contingent upon your admission to the DDE program.
Transfer applicants can be considered for GEAR, HEAL and GRADE. Applications should be completed at the priority semester deadline for strongest consideration.
COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM (CDP) APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application Notification Reply
REMS November 15
GEAR, GRADE, HEAL
EDI November 1
EDII & RD January 5
DDE January 5
Transfer Fall GEAR, GRADE, HEAL
Transfer Spring GRADE
March 15
October 15
ACADEMIC BRIDGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS
Each year a select group of students are given the opportunity to be admitted to the University of Rochester through a number of academic bridge programs. These admissions plans require students to successfully complete additional steps either in the form of an on-campus summer academic support program or additional instructional requirements during the first year of study. Successful completion of these additional requirements will ensure students have the skills necessary to be successful as a student at the University of Rochester.
Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
• To be eligible for HEOP, applicants must reside in New York State and be economically disadvantaged as defined by the State Education Department.
• Financial Eligibility standards are modified for students who are a ward of the State of New York; living with foster parents who will not be providing financial support for college; and students who are receiving ADC, Home Relief or Family Day Care payments.
• To determine financial eligibility, the following applications must be submitted by February 15:
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CSS Profile, New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Application, and IDOC documents through College Board.
• Students admitted under HEOP are required to attend the Early Connection Opportunity program, regularly meet with their assigned HEOP counselor, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Early Connection Opportunity (ECO)
Students are selected to participate in ECO summer bridge program through the application process and
Mid-January
Varies by application round
Mid-March
Rolling basis (Apr. - May)
Rolling basis (Oct. - Nov.)
May 1
Varies by application round
May 1
Specified in decision letter
Specified in decision letter
for some, admission to the College is contingent on the successful completion of the program.
English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP)
Students are selected to participate in EAPP through the application process and are identified as academically capable, but who may need additional English language preparation to ensure success. There is no separate application.
ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT
Students who are admitted and choose to enroll at the University of Rochester must submit an $800 nonrefundable enrollment deposit by the date indicated on their acceptance letter. All Regular Decision applicants who are admitted have until May 1 to submit their deposit, while Early Decision applicants who are admitted typically have up to three weeks from the time of their acceptance to submit their deposit.
DEFERRED ADMISSIONS
If you’re admitted the University of Rochester and wish to defer your admission/enrollment, you must formally submit your request through our Deferred Admission Form by July 1. Admitted students can defer up to two years (four semesters), but no more than one year (two semesters) at a time. Prior to submitting the form you must submit the $800 nonrefundable enrollment deposit. Requests to defer are handled on a case-by-case basis. During the year(s) of deferral, enrollment in a degree seeking program at another institution is prohibited.
EARLY ADMISSIONS
(Applying
Prior to Secondary School Graduation)
Applicants younger than 17 at the time of move in are evaluated case-by-case and may be required to interview in person with a member of the admissions staff.
APPLYING AS A DACA OR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
All Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and undocumented students follow the same application process as domestic applicants, not international applicants.
• Students will be eligible for full financial aid and merit awards.
• Students seeking need-based financial aid are required to submit the International Student CSS Profile.
• If the student or their family/guardian file federal taxes, required financial documents should be submitted through College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
• If the student or their family/guardian do not file federal taxes, a Nontax Filer Statement is required to be submitted through College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
APPLYING AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
Students applying to the University who are not United States citizens or Permanent Residents are considered international students and additional items may be required as part of your application.
Applicants who reside or attend Secondary School in the following countries will be required to read and sign an acknowledgment of the EEA General Data Protection Regulation Privacy Notice (GDPR) located at admissions. rochester.edu/general-data-protection-regulation: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Chechnya, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
If your native language is not English and you completed your secondary or higher education in a non-native English speaking country, you must take either the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test exams to demonstrate English language proficiency. Any of the above exams will satisfy the language proficiency requirement.
International applicants are required to demonstrate the ability to cover the full cost of attendance through the submission of an International Financial Support Form (IFSF). Applicants who are unable to meet full cost of attendance for Rochester without need-based aid or sponsorship from the University, must submit the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is used to determine potential eligibility for need-based University of Rochester grant funding and must be completed each year of attendance. The CSS Profile can be submitted beginning October 1. We recognize that the CSS Profile Fee may be a financial barrier for some high-need international students. As a result, we have purchased a limited number of CSS Profile fee waivers to provide to eligible students. To submit a CSS Profile Fee Waiver Request, students must:
1. Have submitted a Common Application or Coalition Application to Rochester
2. Attest that the CSS Profile fee will present a significant financial burden
The deadline to request a CSS Profile fee waiver is November 15 for EDI applicants and January 15 for EDII and RD first-year applicants. Transfer students applying for fall admission must request a fee waiver by April 15. First-year and transfer applicants applying for the spring term must submit their request by November 15. All international applicants are eligible for merit scholarships.
APPLYING AS A HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENT
In addition to the general application requirements for First-Year Applicants, Home-Schooled students must also submit the following:
• Syllabi with textbooks, where applicable, and a list of all completed literary texts.
• A description of instruction methods and assessment for laboratory sciences.
• At least four years each of English, mathematics, and history/social studies, and three years each of science and foreign language. (Most admitted students will have completed these years of study in these areas.)
• Any transcripts from accredited colleges or universities (Most successful home-schooled applicants have completed college-level course work).
Home-schooled applicants are also encouraged to complete the following in order to allow the admissions committee to better understand their individual program:
• At least one, and preferably two, letters of recommendation from outside instructors, volunteer or group supervisors, or employers.
• Home School Student personal statement reflecting on their home schooling experience (100 - 200 words).
• A peer recommendation from someone not more than one year older or younger.
• A request for an on-campus, off-campus, Zoom, or telephone interview with an admissions counselor (before December 15 of your senior/application year).
APPLYING AS A TRANSFER STUDENT
The University of Rochester accepts transfer applications for both Fall and Spring semesters. An applicant is a transfer if they have completed eight or more college credits after they’ve completed their high school diploma or have earned a high school equivalency.
Our transfer review is holistic, but college performance and preparation are a significant factor in review. Showing that you’ve been a successful college student navigating academics, student life, and responsibilities lets us see the potential contributions you can make at the University of Rochester. Most applicants will have completed at least a year of full-time study at the point of application and have above a 3.3 median college GPA. Many students enroll as upperclassmen based on transfer credit.
MATERIALS
• Common Application (The Common Application is the only application platform that is used for Transfer Admission.)
• Official college transcripts from any institution of higher education where you have received course credit.
• Final high school transcript. For applicants who have successfully completed one year of full-time college coursework, you may request this requirement to be waived.
• Academic Evaluator recommendation (ideally a college professor).
• College Report Form from Common Application. This is typically completed by the College Registrar’s Office and is a suggested, as some institutions may not provide this document.
• Mid-term Repot is highly recommended for all.
• If an international applicant, additional items are required:
» English language exam results or English Proficiency waiver
» International Financial Support Form (IFSF) or CSS Profile
» If university work was outside the United States, a course-by-course credential evaluation. Acceptable outside companies to use for the evaluation are the World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluator (ECE).
PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINES
• Fall semester application deadline of March 15.
• Spring semester application deadline of October 15.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once our review for the term has begun, decisions are released on a rolling basis, typically within 3 - 5 weeks after receipt.
TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES
• Any comparable course to what is offered here that is successfully completed with a C or better will transfer as elective credit towards the 128-credit minimum to graduate. Some department policies require B’s or better in order to be given credit.
• Admissions will do an initial review of credits and provide a transfer credit evaluation to students at the point of acceptance. This will include an assessment of Rochester curriculum requirements based upon intended major listed in the application and what has previously been completed. A final evaluation will be done by the Registrar’s Office once a student has formally enrolled at the University.
• Admissions does not admit students directly to a major. Students will need to declare their major once here and secure course equivalencies with faculty in their major(s).
APPLYING AS A NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT
Students wishing to enroll in non-matriculated (non-degree) part-time or full-time courses will register through the Office of Summer and Continuing Studies.
• No more than six non-matriculated courses taken at Rochester may be used towards a degree.
• Non-matriculated students who wish to pursue a degree at Rochester will need to apply for full or part-time studies as a transfer student.
RESCINDING OFFERS OF ADMISSION
The University of Rochester reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission under certain circumstances, including but not limited to:
• New information comes to light that would have resulted in a different decision at the time of review, including satisfactory completion of coursework currently underway or degrees in progress.
• There has been a misrepresentation in or a violation of any of the terms of the application process.
• The University learns that an applicant has engaged in behavior prior to the first day of class that indicates a serious lack of judgment, integrity, or alignment with University values, and/or violates University policies.
The University further reserves the right to require admitted students to provide additional information and/or authorization for the release of information about any such matter, and to place a hold on registration during the investigation into any such matter.
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The University of Rochester prohibits and will not engage in discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, familial status or an individual’s reproductive health decision making, military/veteran status, national origin, race (including hair style), religion/creed (including religious attire and facial hair), sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law (anyone individually, a “Protected Class”). Discrimination or harassment (including hostile work environment harassment) based on protected status is illegal, will not be tolerated, and is considered misconduct that will be subject to discipline.
The University is committed to fostering, cultivating, and
preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, a central tenet of our institutional vision and values. This commitment extends to policies and practices for admissions, recruitment, and employment in accordance with the principles of equal opportunity and Affirmative Action and in compliance with applicable law.
The University complies with all federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on the protected categories listed above, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination (including sexual harassment and violence based on sex) in the University’s educational programs and activities, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.
FINANCIAL AID AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
FINANCIAL AID POLICY
The University of Rochester has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country, thanks in part to generations of gifts from alumni, parents and friends. It allows us to award more than $150 million a year in a combination of both merit- and needbased financial assistance to approximately 79% of undergraduate students at The College. This means that merit scholarships are awarded to recognize academic achievement and need-based grants are awarded based on your family’s household and financial information. We are committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need of all incoming students through a combination of scholarships, grants, subsidized loans, and student employment opportunities. We look forward to working with you and your family to make a Rochester education affordable.
FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES
First-Year Students FAFSA Due CSS Profile
Early Decision
Regular Decision
1*
15
*Subject to change based on FAFSA availability
1
15
Transfer Students FAFSA Due CSS Profile Spring Term
15
15 Fall Term March 15
International students must submit financial aid documents by the application deadline for the application plan to which they have applied.
15
MERIT SCHOLARSHIP POLICY
The University believes in recognizing and rewarding outstanding high school senior and transfer students for their efforts and academic accomplishments by awarding merit-based scholarships at the time of admission. These awards are not based on financial need and are renewable for up to three years if the minimum criteria are met. Award amounts remain constant and do not increase with tuition and fee increases. Merit aid is reserved for students with exceptional and distinguished academic qualities.
All admitted undergraduate applicants to the College are considered for merit scholarship, and approximately half of all admitted students are awarded a scholarship with an average award of $14,000. As we utilize a testoptional approach in our undergraduate application review, testing does not play a role in our merit awarding process.
If eligible, admitted students are able to receive only one scholarship and internal awards are non-stackable. Should an applicant be eligible for more than one award, the higher of the two will be awarded. Merit scholarships meet financial need when it exists.
An annual Financial Aid Handbook as well as additional Financial Aid Policies can be found at rochester.edu/ financial-aid/aid-policies
NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID
Most financial aid at the University of Rochester is administered on the basis of demonstrated need.
Need is shown if your estimated family contribution, based on review of the FAFSA, CSS Profile and tax information, are less than your student expected budget for the academic year.
Eligibility for federal aid programs is determined by using the federal methodology, a need-analysis formula authored by Congress, and the FAFSA. Eligibility for institutional funds are determined through the institutional methodology based on the College Board’s CSS Profile application.
The University of Rochester meets 100% of demonstrated need, as defined by the institutional methodology, for students through a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and work eligibility.
If you are eligible for financial aid, you can expect your family contribution to remain fairly consistent from year to year as long as your family circumstances remain stable. We ask students to reapply for need-based financial aid each year because family circumstances do sometimes change.
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER TUITION BENEFITS
If at least one of your parents is an employee of the University of Rochester, you may be eligible for dependent child tuition benefits. Since both the benefit and scholarship funds can help with the costs of tuition only, you may be eligible to receive a combination of tuition benefit and scholarship funds that can approach or match, but not exceed, the cost of tuition.
It is our policy that tuition benefits must be applied to your bill before merit scholarships. University of Rochester tuition benefits and scholarship funds cannot be applied to non-tuition related expenses, e.g., housing and dining services.
TOTAL COSTS (2024-2025)
*Maximum total before merit scholarships or need-based financial aid
