U of R vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of Rochester and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Rochester
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • U of R Rochester, NY
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • U of R Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • U of R 11,946
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • U of R Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • U of R #56
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • U of R -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • U of R Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • U of R
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • U of R $67,080
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • U of R $67,080
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • U of R $19,792
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • U of R $40,462
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • U of R $45,500
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • U of R 72%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • U of R 21,384
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • U of R 8,570
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • U of R 40.1%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • U of R 15.4%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • U of R 1480
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • U of R 32
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • U of R 3.75
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • U of R A-
  • Stanford A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • U of R Exceptional
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • U of R Low
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • U of R 31/34
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • U of R 1410/1540
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • U of R Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Stanford Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • U of R Jan 5, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • U of R 9:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • U of R
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • U of R 83%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • U of R $71,000
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • U of R 79%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • U of R $24,500
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • U of R $253
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • U of R 47%
  • Stanford 54%
  • % Women
  • U of R 53%
  • Stanford 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • U of R High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • U of R No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • U of R 48%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • U of R 11%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • U of R 5%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • U of R 7%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • U of R 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • U of R 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • U of R 3%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • U of R 18%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • U of R 7%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • U of R 30%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • U of R 45%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • U of R Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • U of R Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • U of R Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • U of R No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • U of R No
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Rochester in Rochester, NY with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stanford University is larger than U of R based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 11,946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rochester is located in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rochester 9:1; Stanford University 6:1.

U of R vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of R or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than U of R ($25,078 vs. $40,462).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rochester are 7.1% lower than at Stanford University ($19,792 vs. $21,315).
  • University of Rochester is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $1,170 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at U of R than at Stanford University (about $1,170 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at Stanford University (72% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 37.9% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($62,755 vs. $45,500).

U of R vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of R or Stanford? 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 Stanford and U of R.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 70 points higher than at U of R (1480).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at U of R).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 1410/1540; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 31/34; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: U of R - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Stanford - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: U of R Jan 5, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at U of R (3.75).
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at U of R vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

U of R vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for U of R and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Rochester's (83%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $51,900 more per year than U of R graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $71,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $12,025 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($12,475 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($128 vs. $253).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 79%)

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.