Rochester vs University of Southern California (USC)

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at two prestigious institutions: the University of Rochester in New York and the University of Southern California in California. While both universities offer exceptional academic programs and vibrant campus life, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. Rochester, known for its rigorous academics and research opportunities, boasts a lower acceptance rate compared to USC's more accessible admissions process. Explore the nuances of each university's popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, meticulously presented in the comparison table below. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations, personal preferences, and future goals.
University of Rochester logo

University of Rochester

University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Overview

Location Rochester, New York Los Angeles, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 40.5% 12.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1370 - 1520 1410 - 1540
ACT range 31 - 35 32 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 22.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 19,543 71,031
Total number of admissions given out 7,924 8,884
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,623 3,668
Yield rate 20.5% 41.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,456 $81,659
Average net price $40,125 $26,021
Tuition $58,276 $60,446
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,692

Meal plan: $6,696
Room/dormitory: $10,098

Meal plan: $6,634
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

75.0%
Average amount $37,870
72.0%
Average amount $40,690
Students receiving federal student loan 37.0%
Average amount $4,351
22.0%
Average amount $4,215
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $22,054
2.0%
Average amount $29,056

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,568
Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5%
Graduate students 5,471
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 49.9%
International students 30.7% 23.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,350 8,700
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Texas New York Illinois Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Physical Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.9% 92.0%
Dropout rate 4.2% 7.2%
Transferred out 8.8% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $104,166
  • Year 2: $187,234
  • Year 3: $221,418
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $167,228
  • Year 2: $163,225
  • Year 3: $161,094
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,344
  • Year 2: $126,683
  • Year 3: $148,434
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $113,473
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $147,381
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,796
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $146,357
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $79,420
  • Year 2: $88,198
  • Year 3: $140,330
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,841
  • Year 2: $131,090
  • Year 3: $140,129
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,775
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $136,848
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,676
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $134,632
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,991
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $125,784

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