Wellesley vs. U of R

Should I go to Wellesley College or University of Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wellesley or U of R is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Barnard Case Western Vassar Tufts RPI Colgate BU Amherst Lehigh Hamilton College BC MHC
Wellesley College vs. University of Rochester comparison
Wellesley College University of Rochester College 3 College 4
Wellesley College University of Rochester
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wellesley U of R
Location Wellesley, MA Rochester, NY
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 2,418 12,160
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #18 #56
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wellesley.edu rochester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wellesley U of R
Tuition (In State) $64,000 $63,150
Tuition (Out of State) $64,000 $63,150
Room & Board $19,920 $18,924
Avg Net Price $21,501 $40,900
Avg Grant Aid $61,549 $41,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 74%

Admission

Wellesley U of R
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,184 21,680
Admitted 1,138 7,773
Acceptance Rate 13.9% 35.9%
Enrolled % 50.4% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 33/35 31/34
SAT Range 1440/1550 1400/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 8, 2026 Jan 5, 2026

Academics

Wellesley U of R
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

Outcomes

Wellesley U of R
Graduation Rate 92% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,100 $71,000
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $8,900 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $92 $253

Diversity

Wellesley U of R
% Men 1% 21%
% Women 3% 24%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 40% 48%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 12% 18%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Wellesley U of R
% In-State 11% 25%
% Out-of-State 73% 44%

Campus

Wellesley U of R
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Rochester is larger than than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (12,160 students vs. 2,418 students)

Wellesley vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley or U of R?

  • Wellesley College is 1.3% more expensive to attend than U of R for in-state tuition ($64,000.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.3% higher at Wellesley than University of Rochester ($64,000.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wellesley College than U of R ($21,501 vs. $40,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rochester are 5.3% lower than costs at Wellesley College ($18,924 vs. $19,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Rochester than Wellesley College (74% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 47.6% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($61,549 vs. $41,700)

Wellesley vs. U of R Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley or U of R? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between U of R or Wellesley .

  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (35.9%) than Wellesley (13.9%)

Wellesley vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wellesley or U of R? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between U of R and Wellesley.

  • The graduation rate at Wellesley is higher than University of Rochester (92% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn on average $2,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates after ten years. ($71,000 vs. $68,100)
  • Wellesley College students graduate with a $15,600 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($8,900 vs. $24,500)
  • Wellesley graduates are paying $161 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($92 vs. $253)
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/