Rochester, New York Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Rochester, New York: median public in-state tuition $38,826 (+604.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $66,944 (+23.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 45.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,274 (+60.3% vs U.S.) 33,739 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Rochester serve students across New York with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 17 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 33,739 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $38,826. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Rochester, New York and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Rochester vs New York & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, New York | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 |
| New York (state median) | $7,340 | $9,373 | $15,250 | 56.0% | 800,099 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Rochester, New York vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, New York | $66,944 | 45.3% | 86.4% | 2.7% | — | 82.2% | 0.35 |
| New York (state median) | $60,386 | 42.9% | 81.6% | 4.0% | — | 75.8% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New York (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, New York | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 | $66,944 | 45.3% |
| New York | $25,610 | $28,089 | $15,547 | 71.9% | 169,387 | $61,060 | 53.6% |
| Brooklyn | $12,380 | $11,889 | $11,750 | 48.1% | 56,132 | $46,498 | 38.3% |
| Bronx | $8,750 | $13,507 | $9,696 | 56.7% | 40,728 | $65,756 | 40.4% |
| Buffalo | $19,775 | $15,386 | $21,028 | 33.3% | 36,581 | $60,681 | 43.9% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| Syracuse | $21,758 | $20,614 | $15,000 | 73.1% | 24,683 | $62,731 | 45.5% |
| Queens | $30,279 | $17,097 | $17,649 | 59.7% | 22,027 | $66,167 | 44.0% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Rochester, New York
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 5 | $66,944 | 45.3% | 86.4% | 2.7% | — | 82.2% |
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 85.4%, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 74.2%, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 72.8%, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 69.9%, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 66.7%, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 56.8%, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 53.6%, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 45.3%, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 43.8%, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 42.6%, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
Top 5 most selective colleges in Rochester, New York (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 40.1%, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 66.4%, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 66.9%, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 70.6%, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 74.7%, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $99,878, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $94,611, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,684, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,953, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,333, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $155,464, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $138,679, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $90,146, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $87,529, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $86,470, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $68,333, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $65,457, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,198, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $56,275, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,717, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $75,218, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,978, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $62,486, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $55,991, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,205, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $79,042, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $76,571, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,944, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,458, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,031, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $225,108, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $180,468, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $172,460, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $163,291, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $115,888, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
Top 5 most affordable colleges in Rochester, New York (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $23,130, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $28,945, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $29,278, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 4, Net Price, $29,357, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 5, Net Price, $34,906, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
Top 5 colleges in Rochester, New York by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.7%, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 88.8%, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 86.4%, St. John Fisher University
St. John Fisher University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 84.8%, Nazareth University
Nazareth University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 83.6%, Roberts Wesleyan University
Roberts Wesleyan University
In-state tuition: Rochester, New York vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Rochester, New York median in-state tuition is $38,826, +604.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Rochester, New York vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Rochester, New York is $21,274 (+60.3% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Rochester, New York vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Rochester, New York center around $66,944 (+23.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Rochester, New York vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 45.3% at the median Rochester, New York campus (-42.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Rochester, New York median public in-state tuition is $38,826, about +604.4% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +426.0%.
Median graduate debt is $21,274 (+60.3% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Rochester, New York are $66,944, about +23.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 45.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-42.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 86.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 82.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Rochester (56.8%), Rochester Institute of Technology (53.6%), St. John Fisher University (45.3%), Nazareth University (43.8%), Roberts Wesleyan University (42.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Rochester, New York, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $66,944 (5 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Rochester, New York is 71.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Rochester?
This city profile covers 17 campuses in Rochester, New York with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Rochester?
Median in-state tuition in Rochester is $38,826 and median net price is $17,264. For New York overall, medians are $7,340 and $9,373; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Rochester?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Rochester is $66,944 vs $60,386 for New York and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Rochester colleges?
Median completer debt in Rochester is $21,274 vs $15,250 for New York and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Rochester?
Top campuses on this page include University of Rochester (graduation) and University of Rochester (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Rochester?
Among 17 campuses in Rochester, New York, 4 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2), Free Methodist (1), Interdenominational (1).
Sources & related
- New York college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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