Rochester University
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
About Rochester University
Rochester University is a private research university in Rochester Hills, Michigan, enrolling about 792 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 97.65% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,707 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Rochester University charges at the national private non-profit median tuition ($29,196).
- Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is about 1.9×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 44.12%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $48,707.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Rochester University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 468% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester University | $29,196 | $21,456 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Michigan (state median) | $15,221 | $7,368 | 96 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 27% below published tuition at Rochester University
Key findings
- Rochester University's average net price ($21,456) is 27% below published tuition ($29,196).
- Rochester University charges at the national private non-profit median tuition ($29,196).
- Versus the Michigan median, sticker tuition is about 1.9×.
Rochester University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $29,196
Finding Rochester University charges at the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $29,196. That is at the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Michigan median ($15,221), sticker tuition is about 1.9×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Rochester University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Rochester University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Rochester University is $21,456.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $21,456 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,088 above the Michigan median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $2,756 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Rochester University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 27% lower after grants and scholarships.
Rochester University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Rochester University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$29,196
Avg. net price
$21,456
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $18,463 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,173 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,771 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,596 |
| $110,001+ | $25,821 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $116,784. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Rochester University is known for
Top program completions
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching38
- Psychology, General24
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies19
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse16
- Mass Communication/Media Studies14
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 44% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Rochester University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Rochester University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Rochester University.
Campus
Location
Rochester Hills, MI
City / state
- ZIP
- 48307
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 15% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
792
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,332
- Graduate
- 32
- Full-time share
- 84%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,475
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 30.90%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Rochester University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Rochester University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Rochester University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $19,920 | $19,920 | $16,570 |
| 2014 | $20,486 | $20,486 | $16,693 |
| 2015 | $21,028 | $21,028 | $16,211 |
| 2016 | $21,662 | $21,662 | $17,269 |
| 2017 | $22,312 | $22,312 | $17,557 |
| 2018 | $23,282 | $23,282 | $15,971 |
| 2019 | $23,996 | $23,996 | $17,029 |
| 2020 | $24,720 | $24,720 | $17,003 |
| 2021 | $25,462 | $25,462 | $26,137 |
| 2022 | $26,736 | $26,736 | $18,324 |
| 2023 | $27,938 | $27,938 | $19,245 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Rochester University reported total enrollment of about 792 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (62.7%), Black or African American (16.5%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (6.2%). About 30.90% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
83.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Rochester University in 2024 is 792 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,332 students. Graduate enrollment is about 32 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
59.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
27.52% 100% Completion Time
44.12% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 27.52% of students graduating from Rochester University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 3% male / 97% female
- Psychology, General: 17% male / 83% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 42% male / 58% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Rochester University graduates earn a median of $48,707 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Rochester University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,707. Median federal loan debt: $24,475. Average net price used in cost models: $21,456.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Rochester University graduates report median earnings of $48,707 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Rochester University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (26 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Rochester University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Rochester University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Rochester University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$4.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Michigan median 0.15× the median ($30.9M)
- Great Lakes median 0.15× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 0.18× the median ($26.4M)
- Michigan median 0.38× the median ($13,320)
- Great Lakes median 0.30× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 0.41× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 94.9%
- Michigan median 30.8 pp above median (64.1%)
- Great Lakes median 36.8 pp above median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 36.9 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,476
- Michigan median 0.73× the median ($8,917)
- Great Lakes median 0.80× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 0.85× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,275
- Michigan median 1.1× the median ($7,240)
- Great Lakes median 1.1× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Rochester University at a glance
Rochester University
Rochester University is a private non-profit institution in Rochester Hills, MI, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Early Childhood Education & TeachingPsychology, GeneralLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian62.7%Black or African American16.5%Race/ethnicity unknown6.2%
Schools near Rochester University
Other campuses in Rochester Hills, MI when available, plus nearby institutions in Michigan.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Michigan, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rochester University located?
Rochester University is located in Rochester Hills, MI.
What is Rochester University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Rochester University is 97.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 490 applicants and 320 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Rochester University's tuition?
Rochester University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $29,196 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $21,456 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Rochester University cost?
Reported tuition is $29,196 and average net price is $21,456 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,486 annually.
Why is Rochester University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Rochester University, published tuition is $29,196 while average net price is $21,456—about 27% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Rochester University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($21,456), completion (44.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($48,707). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Rochester University?
Rochester University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,332 students, White (62.7%), Black or African American (16.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Rochester University?
About 40.6% of students at Rochester University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Rochester University earn?
Median earnings are $40,813 six years after entry and $48,707 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Rochester University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 44.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Rochester University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,475.
Is Rochester University public or private?
Rochester University is a private nonprofit institution located in Rochester Hills, MI.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.