Rochester vs Berkeley

Nestled in the heart of New York, the University of Rochester (UR) and the vibrant University of California-Berkeley (UCB) stand as two beacons of academic excellence. While both institutions share a commitment to providing a world-class education, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, academic strengths, and student demographics. UR, with its rigorous curriculum and intimate learning environment, boasts a highly selective admissions process, resulting in a lower acceptance rate compared to UCB's more accessible admissions policy. UCB, on the other hand, attracts a larger and more diverse student body, reflecting its public university status. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the nuances that set these two esteemed universities apart, from their popular majors and graduation rates to the vibrant campus cultures they foster. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, embarking on a journey toward intellectual growth and personal fulfillment.
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

University of Rochester logo

University of Rochester

Overview

Location Berkeley, California Rochester, New York
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 91.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.4% 40.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1370 - 1520
ACT range N/A 31 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 22.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0%
Total number of applicants 112,843 19,543
Total number of admissions given out 16,295 7,924
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,931 1,623
Yield rate 42.5% 20.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
$79,456
Average net price $17,652 $40,125
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
$58,276
Room & board $20,236
Room/dormitory: $10,692

Meal plan: $6,696
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

52.0%
Average amount $21,406
75.0%
Average amount $37,870
Students receiving federal student loan 15.0%
Average amount $4,586
37.0%
Average amount $4,351
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $7,122
7.0%
Average amount $22,054

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
6,568
Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
Graduate students 13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
5,471
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 16.9% N/A
International students 18.0% 30.7%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 9,630 1,350
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.8% 85.9%
Dropout rate 6.3% 4.2%
Transferred out N/A 8.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,070
  • Year 2: $89,524
  • Year 3: $104,615
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,531
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $104,384
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,464
  • Year 2: $95,073
  • Year 3: $92,400
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,860
  • Year 2: $83,546
  • Year 3: $90,745
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,134
  • Year 2: $73,321
  • Year 3: $87,028
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,597
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $83,153
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,852
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $75,215
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,873
  • Year 2: $57,705
  • Year 3: $73,661
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $72,841
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,595
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $70,372

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