Duke University vs Rochester

Duke University and the University of Rochester, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Duke, situated in Durham, North Carolina, boasts a lower acceptance rate (8.2%) compared to Rochester's (32.5%) in Rochester, New York. While Duke's student body is more diverse, with 51% female and 49% male students, Rochester has a slightly higher percentage of female students (53%) to male students (47%). Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with Duke excelling in fields like biology, economics, and public policy, while Rochester shines in areas such as optics, music, and nursing. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including graduation rates, popular majors, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the ideal fit for your academic aspirations.

	Duke University	University of Rochester
Overview
Location	Durham, North Carolina	Rochester, New York
Campus setting	City: Large	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	98.0%	91.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Methodism

Admission
Acceptance rate	5.9%	40.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $50
SAT range	1468 - 1558	1370 - 1520
ACT range	33 - 35	31 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	47.0%	22.0%
Students submitting ACT score	46.0%	7.0%
Total number of applicants	49,703	19,543
Total number of admissions given out	2,927	7,924
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,744	1,623
Yield rate	59.6%	20.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,860	$79,456
Average net price	$27,297	$40,125
Tuition	$58,085	$58,276
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,164 Meal plan: $6,862	Room/dormitory: $10,692 Meal plan: $6,696
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	46.0% Average amount $50,731	75.0% Average amount $37,870
Students receiving federal student loan	20.0% Average amount $4,537	37.0% Average amount $4,351
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $22,957	7.0% Average amount $22,054

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	6,883 Men 48.4% Women 51.6%	6,568 Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
Graduate students	10,737 Men 45.5% Women 54.5%	5,471 Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	21.4%	30.7%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	5,718	1,350
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Engineering Legal Profession Social Sciences	Business Health Professions Engineering Education Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	95.9%	85.9%
Dropout rate	4.0%	4.2%
Transferred out	N/A	8.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	International Business (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $151,472 Year 2: $213,978 Year 3: $201,782 Law (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $155,031 Year 2: $168,098 Year 3: $200,300 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $143,622 Year 2: $148,189 Year 3: $163,560 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $163,977 Year 2: $138,342 Year 3: $159,598 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $115,135 Year 2: $106,898 Year 3: $134,542 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $123,138 Year 2: $116,541 Year 3: $124,406 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $108,817 Year 2: $97,071 Year 3: $117,262 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $94,699 Year 2: $90,856 Year 3: $112,646 Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $97,661 Year 2: $91,078 Year 3: $108,736 Economics (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $104,348	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $91,070 Year 2: $89,524 Year 3: $104,615 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $84,531 Year 2: $83,177 Year 3: $104,384 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $96,464 Year 2: $95,073 Year 3: $92,400 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $73,860 Year 2: $83,546 Year 3: $90,745 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,134 Year 2: $73,321 Year 3: $87,028 Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $63,597 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $83,153 Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $55,852 Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $75,215 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,873 Year 2: $57,705 Year 3: $73,661 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,906 Year 2: $61,516 Year 3: $72,841 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,595 Year 2: $52,941 Year 3: $70,372

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Duke University and the University of Rochester?

Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, is known for its strong emphasis on undergraduate education within a research-oriented environment, particularly excelling in areas like law, medicine, and public policy. It has a strong Southern tradition and a vibrant campus life. The University of Rochester, situated in Rochester, New York, is a smaller, research-focused university with a more direct emphasis on graduate studies and research. It's known for its flexible curriculum, particularly the 'Rochester Curriculum,' and its strengths in fields like optics, music (Eastman School of Music), and medicine.
How do the academic programs at Duke and Rochester compare?

Duke offers a broader range of undergraduate programs with a strong emphasis on pre-professional training. While research is important, undergraduate education is a central focus. Rochester, while also offering a wide range of programs, is more heavily research-oriented, with a significant emphasis on graduate studies. The 'Rochester Curriculum' allows students greater flexibility in designing their academic path, focusing on depth in chosen areas rather than breadth across all disciplines. Duke has a more structured core curriculum.
What is the 'Rochester Curriculum,' and how does it differ from Duke's academic structure?

The 'Rochester Curriculum' is a unique academic approach at the University of Rochester that allows students to focus on their chosen areas of study without strict distribution requirements. Students select a major and then choose two 'clusters' – groups of related courses outside their major – to provide breadth. Duke, on the other hand, has a more traditional core curriculum that requires students to take courses across various disciplines, ensuring a broader foundation of knowledge.
Which university is stronger in specific academic fields?

Duke is particularly strong in law, medicine, public policy, business, and environmental science. The University of Rochester excels in optics, music (through the Eastman School of Music, consistently ranked among the best music schools in the world), medicine, and political science. Both universities have strong programs in engineering and the natural sciences.
How do the campus cultures and student life differ between Duke and Rochester?

Duke has a vibrant campus life with a strong emphasis on athletics, particularly basketball. It has a more traditional Southern college atmosphere. Rochester's campus culture is more academically focused and diverse, with a greater emphasis on research and innovation. While Rochester has athletics, it's not as central to the student experience as it is at Duke. Rochester also has a reputation for being more welcoming to students with diverse interests and backgrounds.
What are the differences in location and surrounding environment?

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, a growing city in the Research Triangle Park, offering access to numerous technology and research companies. The climate is generally warmer. The University of Rochester is located in Rochester, New York, a mid-sized city with a rich history in technology and manufacturing. Rochester experiences colder winters and is closer to major metropolitan areas like New York City and Toronto.
How do the costs of attending Duke and Rochester compare?

The cost of attendance at both Duke University and the University of Rochester is generally comparable, including tuition, fees, room, and board. However, it's essential to check the most recent figures on each university's website, as costs can change annually. Both universities offer financial aid and scholarships to eligible students.
What are the career prospects like for graduates of Duke and Rochester?

Graduates from both Duke and Rochester enjoy excellent career prospects. Duke graduates are highly sought after in fields like law, business, medicine, and public policy, often finding opportunities in the Southeast and nationally. Rochester graduates are well-regarded in fields like optics, engineering, music, and medicine, with strong connections to industries in the Northeast and beyond. Both universities have robust career services to support students in their job search.
Which university is more selective in its admissions process?

Both Duke University and the University of Rochester are highly selective institutions. Duke generally has a slightly lower acceptance rate, making it marginally more competitive. However, both universities seek academically talented students with diverse backgrounds and a strong record of extracurricular involvement.
What are some similarities between Duke University and the University of Rochester?

Both Duke University and the University of Rochester are highly respected research universities with a commitment to academic excellence. They both offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, attract talented students from around the world, and provide opportunities for research and innovation. Both universities also have strong alumni networks that can be valuable resources for graduates.

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