About the University
The University of Rochester is a private research university located in Rochester, New York, USA. It was founded in 1850 and has since grown to become one of the top universities in the United States. The university is known for its strong programs in the sciences, engineering, and music.
The University of Rochester has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 6,200 students, and its campus is spread over 707 acres. The university offers over 200 majors, minors, and certificate programs across its five schools, including the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, the Eastman School of Music, the Simon Business School, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
In terms of research, the University of Rochester is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is known for its groundbreaking research in fields such as optics, neuroscience, and cancer. The university also has a strong commitment to community engagement, with programs such as the Rochester Center for Community Leadership and the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.
Overview
Location: Rochester, New York, USA
Type: Private Research University
Founded: 1850
Fun Facts
Omega Laser
The University of Rochester's Omega Laser Facility stands proudly as the home of two of the world's most powerful high-energy and high-intensity lasers. These cutting-edge lasers showcase the university's commitment to advancing scientific research and exploration at the forefront of laser technology.
UR retains spot as region’s top employer
Ranking as New York’s seventh-largest employer, the University of Rochester, with some 32,000 workers on its payroll, employs more people in the state than Walmart, McDonalds or Home Depot.
Legendary Tunnels
The University of Rochester boasts a fascinating feature that adds to its mystique—the legendary tunnels that interconnect the buildings on its academic quad. These underground passageways have become part of the university's lore and are often whispered about among students and alumni. The tunnels provide a convenient and efficient means of traversing the campus, especially during inclement weather.
A Memorial Art Gallery kiln helped fuel the war effort
By the time the United States formally entered World War II, Brian O’Brien, the director of the Institute of Optics, and his colleagues had “essentially initiated the whole science of night warfare,” writes faculty member Carlos Stroud in A Jewel in the Crown, the history of the institute that he co-wrote and edited.
Then, by the end of World War II, about half of the country’s university-based military optics research projects were conducted at the University of Rochester. Even the ceramic kilns of the Memorial Art Gallery were taken over for molding aspheric lenses for aerial cameras. Four days a week, art students suspended the firing of their work for this important research project.
The naval science building was literally built like a ship
Opened in 1946 as a naval science building, Harkness Hall on the River Campus was laid out like a ship. It contained offices and classrooms, a naval library, a practice range, navigation instruments, and equipment used to teach naval tactics. ROTC students regularly held dances in the building.
There’s a cave at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman’s basement has gone by a progression of names. At one time it was formally known as the Basement Assembly. In the 1970s, it was called Fingal’s Cave after the title of a famous orchestral work by Felix Mendelssohn. Today, it’s simply known as the Cave. The word “cave” is actually an apt physical description of the space and the sensation that one gets being down there. It has served various purposes for our students over the decades, including as a gathering place, an Internet café, an eatery, and a place for students to get messages or mail. A very long time ago, it even served as an alternative performance venue.
A Morse code message greets visitors outside the Memorial Art Gallery
In a work entitled “Marking Crossways,” artist Jackie Ferrara cast Morse code symbols into pavers that spell out “The Memorial Art Gallery” and “University of Rochester” as well as colors of the rainbow. The use of Morse code in this way is an artistic nod to the museum’s connection to Western Union, which started as a telegraph company in the mid-1800s and used Morse code to send messages.
Academics
Graduation Rate: 87%
Retention Rate: 92%
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Admissions
Average IELTS | 7.5 |
Average TOEFL | 100 (iBT) |
Average SAT | 1410-1520 |
Average ACT | 31-34 |
College Board Code | 2928 |
Application Deadline | January |
Application Requirements
High School Transcript
Senior Year Grades
Letter of Recommendation
Standardized Tests (Optional)
International Financial Support Form (IFSF) (for applicants who do not require need-based financial aid) or CSS Profile (for applicants who require need-based financial aid)
Rankings
The University of Rochester is one of the top private universities in Rochester, United States. It is ranked #=147 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #36 in Best National Universities by US News.
Majors Available
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Accounting Adult Health Nurse/Nursing African-American/Black Studies American Sign Language (ASL) American/United States Studies/Civilization Analysis and Functional Analysis Anthropology Applied Mathematics Art History, Criticism and Conservation
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The Headmaster Student Experience
“As a current student at the University of Rochester, I can confidently say that the academics here are top-notch. With over 70 majors to choose from, there is truly something for everyone. The faculty is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects, and they are always willing to help students with their coursework.
One of the things I appreciate about the University of Rochester is its focus on interdisciplinary learning. Many of the majors here involve courses from multiple departments, which I think is really important in today's world where problems often require a multidisciplinary approach.”
Headmaster Student
Famous Alumni
Sources
Astor, Will. “Ur Retains Spot as Region’s Top Employer.” Rochester Beacon. 10 Sept. 2021. Web. 17 May 2023.
Giordano, Anthony. “12 Surprising Facts about Campus Spaces.” Alumni News. 17 Feb. 2023. Web. 17 May 2023.
Omega Laser. n.d. Web. 17 May 2023.
"University of Rochester - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best ..." Web. 26 Apr. 2023.
"University of Rochester." Top Universities. Web. 26 Apr. 2023.
"The University of Rochester: Make the World Ever Better." University of Rochester. Web. 26 Apr. 2023.
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