University

University of Rochester

University
#114 / #40
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#61
Most Desirable School
Private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States

University of Rochester Featured Rankings

About University of Rochester

Featured Alumnus

Jennifer Saul ranks among our Top Influential Anthropologists Today.

Bruce Schneier ranks among our Top Influential Computer Scientists Today.

By James Barham, PhD

The University of Rochester traces its roots to the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, founded in 1817 in the town of Hamilton in central New York state. Its primary function was to train Baptist clergymen. In 1823, the educational society changed its name to the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution.

In 1846, the Hamilton Institution created a new collegiate division, under the name of Madison University, for the purpose of providing its students with a broader and more-modern, non-theological curriculum. In 1890, Madison University changed its name to Colgate University, which continues to operate in Hamilton to this day.

At the time of the founding of Madison University in 1846, there was a dispute, which led to the departure of many faculty members for a new university that was being planned in the city of Rochester, farther west, near the shore of Lake Ontario. The new school, named the University of Rochester, was finally chartered in 1850, which is usually considered as the date of the school’s founding, in spite of the fact that many of the faculty members had come directly from Madison University.

The first year’s enrollment was very small, comprising some 60 students—28 of whom had also transferred from Madison University. Today, the University of Rochester is a private, secular, research university with a total student population of more than 12,000.

Among Rochester’s many highly esteemed schools, colleges, and institutes, the following are especially worthy of mention: the Laboratory of Laser Energetics; the Institute of Optics; and the Eastman School of Music, which is among the finest music programs in the country.

Twelve Nobel laureates have been associated with the University of Rochester, namely,

Physics–

  • Gérard Mourou
  • Donna Strickland
  • Masatoshi Koshiba
  • Steven Chu

Chemistry–

  • Biochemist, Vincent du Vigneaud

Physiology or Medicine–

  • George Whipple
  • Henrik Dam
  • D. Carleton Gajdusek
  • Arthur Kornberg

Economics

  • Richard Thaler
  • Paul Romer
  • Robert Fogel

Other distinguished Rochester-connected individuals include the following:

  • Mathematician, Arthur J. Lohwater
  • Computer scientists, Stan Frankel, Avie Tevanian, Bruce Schneier, Corinna Cortes & J.C.R. Licklider
  • Philosophers, Myles Brand & Peter van Inwagen
  • Poet, Galway Kinnell
  • Novelist, Shirley Jackson
  • Mystery writer, Thomas Perry
  • US Pledge of Allegiance author, Francis Bellamy
  • Literary theorist, N. Katherine Hayles
  • Actors, Robert Wallace Forster, Jr., Lance Reddick & Debra Jo Rupp
  • Theater producer, George Abbott
  • Film critic, Janet Maslin
  • Popular singer and songwriter, Wendy O. Williams
  • Jazz bassist, Ron Carter
  • Trumpet player and composer, Chuck Mangione
  • Drummer, Steve Gadd
  • Classical composer, David Diamond
  • Film composer, Angelo Badalamenti
  • Tenor, Anthony Dean Griffey
  • Soprano, Renée Fleming
  • Astronomer, Robert H. Dicke
  • Astrophysicist, Adam Frank
  • Physicists, John C. Slater, Emil Wolf, Carlos Stroud, Greg Gbur, Robert W. Boyd & George Sudarshan
  • Optical engineer, Robert E. Hopkins
  • Engineer and inventor, Gary Starkweather
  • Chemists, Esther M. Conwell & Steven M. Weinreb
  • Geologist, Grove Karl Gilbert
  • Neurologist, Rudolph E. Tanzi
  • Cognitive neuroscientist, Susan Hockfield
  • Evolutionary biologists, H. Allen Orr & David Sloan Wilson
  • Sex researcher, William Masters
  • Psychologists, Richard M. Ryan & Mark Rosenzweig
  • Economists, Hugo Sonnenschein, Steven E. Landsburg, Lionel McKenzie, Michele Boldrin, Kenneth French & Zvi Hercowitz
  • Economist and public servant, Lawrence Kudlow
  • Economist and social activist, Jennifer Roback Morse
  • Historians, Steven Hahn, Stephen Kotkin & Richard M. Dolan
  • Linguist, Ivan Sag
  • Political scientists, Richard McKelvey, Morris P. Fiorina & John Aldrich
  • African-American Studies scholar, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham
  • Legal scholar, Arthur R. Miller

According to Wikipedia, The University of Rochester is a private research university in Rochester, New York, United States. It enrolls approximately 6,800 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students. It was founded in 1850 and moved into its current campus, next to the Genesee River in 1955. With approximately 30,000 full-time employees, the university is the largest private employer in Upstate New York and the 7th largest in all of New York State.

University of Rochester's Online Degrees

BSN in RN to BSN
  • Required Credits: 128
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate in Care Management Education
  • Required Credits: 70
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported

University of Rochester Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
19,54341%86%142032

How Much Does University of Rochester Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$59,378
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$12,915
30K - 48K$17,764
48K - 75K$23,108
75K - 110K$28,633
110K+$45,827

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do University of Rochester Graduates Make?

If you graduate from University of Rochester, then you can expect to earn an average of $74,300 per year. You also have a 92% chance of being employed after 10 years.

University of Rochester's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
13,1197,0206,099

Where is University of Rochester?

University of Rochester is located at Wilson Blvd. - Wallis Hall, Rochester NY 14627-0011

How Safe is University of Rochester?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.

What Is University of Rochester Known For?

University of Rochester is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

University of Rochester's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Physics
#61
World Rank
#92
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
physics Degrees
Economics
#57
World Rank
#76
Historical Rank
#24
USA Rank
economics Degrees
Biology
#103
World Rank
#128
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
biology Degrees
Chemistry
#143
World Rank
#184
Historical Rank
#36
USA Rank
chemistry Degrees
Nursing
#71
World Rank
#72
Historical Rank
#37
USA Rank
nursing Degrees
Computer Science
#94
World Rank
#78
Historical Rank
#38
USA Rank
computer-science Degrees
Medical
#95
World Rank
#101
Historical Rank
#40
USA Rank
medicine Degrees
Anthropology
#122
World Rank
#134
Historical Rank
#45
USA Rank
anthropology Degrees
Engineering
#154
World Rank
#178
Historical Rank
#46
USA Rank
engineering Degrees
Communications
#154
World Rank
#172
Historical Rank
#46
USA Rank
communications Degrees
Mathematics
#189
World Rank
#241
Historical Rank
#46
USA Rank
math Degrees
Psychology
#80
World Rank
#98
Historical Rank
#47
USA Rank
psychology Degrees
Political Science
#179
World Rank
#185
Historical Rank
#55
USA Rank
political-science Degrees
Business
#135
World Rank
#135
Historical Rank
#56
USA Rank
business Degrees
Philosophy
#192
World Rank
#213
Historical Rank
#60
USA Rank
philosophy Degrees
History
#160
World Rank
#175
Historical Rank
#61
USA Rank
history Degrees
Education
#215
World Rank
#220
Historical Rank
#68
USA Rank
education Degrees
Social Work
#145
World Rank
#147
Historical Rank
#79
USA Rank
social-work Degrees
Earth Sciences
#357
World Rank
#296
Historical Rank
#92
USA Rank
earth-science Degrees
Sociology
#308
World Rank
#325
Historical Rank
#100
USA Rank
sociology Degrees
Literature
#285
World Rank
#277
Historical Rank
#112
USA Rank
literature Degrees
Religious Studies
#494
World Rank
#515
Historical Rank
#113
USA Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees

Who Are University of Rochester's Most Influential Alumni?

University of Rochester's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Nursing, Economics, and Computer Science. Here are some of University of Rochester's most famous alumni:

Richard Thaler
Richard Thaler
An American economist.
Janet Maslin
An American journalist and critic.
Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig
An American audio engineer.
J. C. R. Licklider
J. C. R. Licklider
An American psychologist and computer scientist.
Bruce Schneier
Bruce Schneier
An American computer scientist, (1963 - ), New York, New York.
Steven Chu
Steven Chu
An American physicist, former United States Secretary of Energy, Nobel laureate.
Masatoshi Koshiba
Masatoshi Koshiba
A Japanese physicist and astronomer .
Arthur Kornberg
Arthur Kornberg
An American biochemist.
John C. Slater
John C. Slater
An American physicist.
David Sloan Wilson
David Sloan Wilson
An American biologist.
Donna Strickland
Donna Strickland
A Canadian physicist, 2018 Nobel laureate, (1959 - ), Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Rush Rhees
Rush Rhees
A Philosopher .

Who Are University of Rochester's Most Influential Faculty?

University of Rochester's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Nursing, Economics, and Computer Science. Here are some of University of Rochester's most famous alumni:

Scott Aaronson
Scott Aaronson
An American scientist, working on the field of quantum computing, (1981 - ), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Theodore Sider
An American philosopher.
Gilles Chabrier
A French astronomer.
Jennifer Grotz
Jennifer Grotz
An American writer and academic.
Sheila Callaghan
Sheila Callaghan
An American writer.
David B. Goldstein
An American geneticist, Professor of Medical and Surgical Research.
Ekram Hossain
A Professor.
Norman Sleep
An American university teacher.
Cary Peppermint
Cary Peppermint
An American artist.
Karl Rosengren
An American psychologist.
Patrick L. Holland
An American inorganic chemist.
Mark Zupan
A Dean of University of Rochester, Simon School of Business.