National Universities USA – 2016 – University of Rochester – Rank 33/100
National Universities USA – 2016 – University of Rochester – Rank 33/100
University of Rochester
Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
Phone: (585) 275-2121
University of Rochester is a private institution that was founded in 1850. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,266, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 707 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Rochester’s ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 33. Its tuition and fees are $48,290 (2015-16).
The University of Rochester describes itself as one of the smallest and most collegiate schools among the nation’s top research universities. The Yellowjackets mainly compete in the University Athletic Association and participate in NCAA Division III sports. The school also offers more than 200 student organizations, and about one quarter of students are affiliated with Greek life on campus. Rochester’s a cappella ensembles are among the country’s best. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and two-thirds of the juniors and more than half of the seniors choose to remain on campus. Rochester’s main campus is located two miles south of downtown Rochester, N.Y., in the bend of the Genesee River.
The University of Rochester’s graduate programs include the highly ranked William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences,Medical Center, Department of Political Science and Department of Economics. The well-regarded Eastman School of Music is home to more than 20 ensembles, including the first wind ensemble in the country. The Institute of Optics is the nation’s oldest educational program devoted to optics. The school’s unique “Take Five Scholars” program provides students an additional tuition-free semester or year studying topics of interest outside of their major. Notable alumni include former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and visual effects artist Michael Kanfer, who won an Academy Award for his work on the film “Titanic.”
Excellence requires freedom. The University of Rochester’s belief in this fundamental principle, which drives research faculty around the world, has led to our unique and innovative Rochester Curriculum. Living the principle straight out of high school, Rochester students are free to select the courses that appeal to them most from their first day on campus. Advising is individualized from the first day, and Rochester students typically build on their passion (or combination of passions) for all four year of a BS or BA career. The Rochester Curriculum commitment means there are zero required subjects; instead, students’ interests drive their education. As they structure their choices, students will choose to major in one of over 70 degree programs in sciences and engineering, in humanities, or in social sciences, and at least a “cluster” of three related courses in each of the other areas. Among America’s advanced research universities, Rochester is collegiate in character, with smaller enrollment overall, nearly 90% residential for four years, balanced in gender and diversity, and sustaining a commitment that 95-100% of every student’s instruction will be with tenure-track faculty. With guaranteed exposure to research, Rochester students may begin advanced studies in graduate courses early. Beyond the strong majority of arts and sciences students, Rochester offers undergraduate professional options with schools of engineering, medicine, nursing, music, education, and business. The share of Rochester students who choose to pursue graduate degrees is among the nation’s highest. Among the 2,000 National Science Foundation fellowships offered in 2011, 16 were for current and former Rochester undergraduates, ranking Rochester 14th among all private universities. In other important respects Rochester mirrors the best that larger universities can offer. The campus is self-contained, but a stimulating downtown is two miles away, and year-round recreation is prominent in all directions. Recreation, schools, and culture are among the reasons Rochester was ranked in Places Rated Almanac’s 25th anniversary edition as the 6th most ideal among America’s 395 metropolitan areas. The Curriculum drives an enormous diversity for life on campus, which supports over 250 different student organizations. Since no two academic programs are alike, Rochester students develop over years as individuals with growing confidence. Many Rochester students emulate the faculty who have devoted their lives to free academic inquiry. They make intelligent, even rebellious, choices for themselves and tend to associate in ways that reinforce support for every other student’s individual choices.
