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Downtown Rochester, NY HDR by patrickashleyPhoto: Patrick Ashley · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Rochester

Rochester is home to University of Rochester

The University of Rochester (10,957 students on campus) is inside the city, and Monroe Community College (6,485) is 4.8 miles from the center, just over the line in Brighton. About 9% of Rochester’s residents are enrolled in college, above New York (7%).

University of RochesterMonroe Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Rochester. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
40,637 students on campus
Nearest college
3.1 mi
University of Rochester
Residents in college
9%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
4.8 mi
Monroe · $6,006 tuition
Nearest public university
16.9 mi
SUNY Brockport · $8,752 in-state
Median household income
$47K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rochester

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 4.8 milesUniversity of Rochester admits 40% of applicants. Together they have 17,442 students on campus.A community college 4.8 miles awayMonroe Community College in Rochester: tuition and fees $6,006 a year for New York residents.In-state price at SUNY BrockportLiving in New York, SUNY Brockport charges $8,752 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $15,822. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rochester

Six private colleges within 9.7 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, SUNY Brockport, is 16.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miRochester Institute of TechnologyUniversity of RochesterMonroeRochester
University or collegeCommunity college
University of RochesterUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 10,957 on campus · In Rochester40%admitted$29knet price85%graduate$79kearningsMonroe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,485 on campus · 4.8 mi · Rochester$6knet price27%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $6,006 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 333 on campus · 6.3 mi · Rochester$12knet price10%graduate$33kearningsTuition and fees: $20,073 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Earnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.St. John Fisher UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,032 on campus · 6.4 mi · Rochester66%admitted$29knet price74%graduate$67kearningsRochester Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 16,249 on campus · 6.6 mi · Rochester67%admitted$35knet price70%graduate$77kearningsNazareth UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,408 on campus · 6.8 mi · Rochester75%admitted$29knet price73%graduate$56kearningsRoberts Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,173 on campus · 9.7 mi · Rochester71%admitted$23knet price67%graduate$55kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Rochester’s median household income ($47,213) falls.

Monroe Community College4.8 mi · Rochester · sticker $14,606 · tuition $6,006$5,081a year
University of RochesterIn Rochester · sticker $85,962$12,185a year
SUNY Brockport16.9 mi · Brockport · sticker $26,046$12,699a year
Roberts Wesleyan University9.7 mi · Rochester · sticker $52,919$14,396a year
St. John Fisher University6.4 mi · Rochester · sticker $55,201$17,953a year
Nazareth University6.8 mi · Rochester · sticker $58,254$22,827a year
Rochester Institute of Technology6.6 mi · Rochester · sticker $74,626$24,820a year
Bryant & Stratton College-Greece6.3 mi · Rochester · sticker $24,114 · tuition $20,073—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of RochesterMonroeSt. John Fisher UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyNazareth UniversitySUNY Brockport
Rochester Institute of Technology70% graduate$77k earnings$27k typical debt
University of Rochester85% graduate$79k earnings$21k typical debt
Monroe Community College27% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
SUNY Brockport55% graduate$54k earnings$20k typical debt
St. John Fisher University74% graduate$67k earnings$23k typical debt
Nazareth University73% graduate$56k earnings$26k typical debt
Roberts Wesleyan University67% graduate$55k earnings$24k typical debt
Bryant & Stratton College-Greece10% graduate$33k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Bryant & Stratton College-Greece (8).

Majors

What students study in Rochester

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at University of Rochester, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Biology 13%Health professions 12%Business 11%Social sciences 10%Engineering 10%Psychology 9%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Biology, General230 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing201 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods201 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental Psychology173 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Computer Science141 graduates a year
$155k4 yrs out
Music140 graduates a year
$35k4 yrs out
Economics104 graduates a year
$109k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government73 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Rochester

Is Rochester a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Rochester residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New York (7). The largest campus in the city, the University of Rochester, has 10,957 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rochester?

The University of Rochester is inside the city. Monroe Community College is 4.8 miles from the center, in Brighton.

What is the closest community college to Rochester, and what does it cost?

Monroe Community College in Rochester, 4.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,006 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $6,353, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does SUNY Brockport cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $8,752 a year in-state and $15,822 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,911 (under $30,000 income) to $20,625 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Rochester. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →