MHC vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with University of Rochester in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rochester is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (11,946 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

MHC vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or U of R? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Holyoke College than U of R ($32,526 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 0.5% lower than at University of Rochester ($19,684 vs. $19,792).
• University of Rochester is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $62 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at U of R than at Mount Holyoke College (about $62 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at University of Rochester (77% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 15.2% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($52,418 vs. $45,500).

MHC vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC or U of R? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between U of R and MHC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 20 points higher than at MHC (1460).
• Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at U of R).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; University of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; U of R - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at U of R (3.75).
• U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than MHC (36%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 15.4% at U of R.

MHC vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC and U of R? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Rochester's (83%).
• Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $3,294 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($21,206 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($219 vs. $253).
• More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.