Wellesley vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (11,946 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Wellesley vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than U of R ($22,174 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rochester are 5.9% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,792 vs. $21,024).
• Wellesley College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than U of R (about $96 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Wellesley than at University of Rochester (about $96 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at Wellesley College (72% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 40.9% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($64,116 vs. $45,500).

Wellesley vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 30 points higher than at U of R (1480).
• Incoming Wellesley 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: Wellesley College 1460/1560; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; University of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; U of R - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• 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 (40.1%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Wellesley vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

• Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Rochester's (83%).
• Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $15,600 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($8,900 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $161 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.