At $30,248/yr net price, University of Rochester graduates earn $79,042/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $45,042/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $30,248 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $120,992 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $79,042/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$45,042/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 84.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,743/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,102/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,177/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,822/yr |
| $110,001+ | $48,528/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $95,073 | $34,054 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $89,524 | $40,170 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $83,546 | |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $83,177 | $19,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master | $82,440 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $73,321 | $18,175 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Certificate | $69,338 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $68,194 | $15,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $64,493 | $23,000 |
| Education, General. | Doctoral | $63,005 |
The Risk Factor
84.5% of students at University of Rochester graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
University of Rochester gives you a solid financial return with low borrowing risk. Median debt sits at $21,000 against median earnings of $79,042 ten years out, so you leave owing less than a third of a single year's pay. The 92.53% retention and 84.50% graduation rates mean you are likely to finish, which is where most college debt disasters start.
Computer science is the clear winner here, pairing the highest earnings with debt under $19,000. Electrical and biomedical engineering follow closely, all with debt that stays reasonable. Nursing stands out for a different reason: the lowest debt of any listed program at $15,000, making it the safest bet on the sheet even though it pays less than CS. Chemical engineering is the outlier to watch, carrying the highest debt of these five while earning less than nursing, so the math is tighter there.
The main financial risk is the sticker price. Rochester is private, and if your family earns over $110k you pay $48,528 a year, roughly $195,000 before any loans. That number only pays off if you land in engineering, CS, or nursing. If you plan to major in a field not listed above, you are paying private-college prices without a documented salary outcome to justify them.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families heavily. Under $30k, you pay $13,743. between $30-48k, $16,102. Those are close to public-school prices for a private research university. The jump comes above $75k, where the discount thins out fast and the over-$110k tier pays more than triple the bottom bracket.
This school fits you if you are entering a technical or nursing field, or if your family income keeps you in the lower net-price tiers. If you are full-pay and undecided, look harder before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Rochester worth the cost compared to other schools?
University of Rochester graduates earn $79,042 ten years after graduation with median debt of $21,000, which creates a reasonable debt-to-income ratio. The net price of $30,248 annually is high but manageable given the strong earning outcomes and 85% graduation rate.
What are the highest paying majors at University of Rochester?
Nursing programs at University of Rochester lead in earnings at $95,073, followed by business administration at $89,524 and computer science at $83,177. These programs justify the tuition cost better than lower-earning majors.
How much debt do University of Rochester students typically graduate with?
University of Rochester students graduate with a median debt of $21,000, which is below the national average. This relatively low debt load makes the school more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
Does University of Rochester provide good financial aid to reduce costs?
The net price at University of Rochester averages $30,248 after financial aid, indicating the school provides substantial aid packages. However, this still represents a significant annual cost that requires careful financial planning.