Scholarships
Merit vs. need
Like many colleges and universities, we distinguish between two types of financial assistance: support based on merit and support based on need. A financial aid offer from the University often includes both types of aid.
Merit-based aid:
- Comes in the form of scholarships
- Awarded by the Office of Admissions based on holistic application review.
- Automatically reapplied to your financial aid package each year
Need-based aid:
- Comes in the form of grants, loans, work study, etc.
- Awarded by the Financial Aid Office
- You must reapply each year (since your family’s financial situation may change)
You should also know:
- Every application is individually reviewed so that factors such as assets, family size, and number in college are considered, in addition to the family income.
- We distribute merit-based aid regardless of a family’s demonstrated financial need.
- Like most private universities, URochester uses an Institutional Methodology (IM) to calculate an expected family contribution (EFC). This means the EFC at URochester will be different from that provided by other sources, depending on each family’s individual circumstances.
- Students who complete all application materials on time and are admitted to the University will receive a financial aid award letter shortly after their admission notification. Late applicants may not receive their award letter until after the May 1 deposit deadline, so keep track of deadlines.
Merit scholarships (merit-based aid)
The University of Rochester allocates the majority of our financial aid budget to need-based aid, but also awards merit-based scholarships to first-year and transfer students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and potential, regardless of financial circumstances.
- Approximately 75% of admitted students were awarded a merit scholarship for the 2026-2027 year, with an average award around $20,000.
- All admitted undergraduate applicants are considered for merit scholarships.
- Merit scholarships are awarded to students during the admission process and renewed annually if satisfactory academic performance and full-time status are maintained.
- Students are eligible to receive only one merit scholarship from the University of Rochester.
If you qualify for University of Rochester tuition benefits:
Students who qualify for the University’s dependent child tuition benefit may also be eligible for a University of Rochester merit scholarship. Your tuition benefit is applied first, and any eligible merit scholarship is then applied toward remaining tuition costs. Combined, these awards cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Neither the tuition benefit nor merit scholarships may be used for non-tuition expenses such as housing or dining.
Our Merit Scholarships
Meliora Scholarship
All undergraduate applicants are considered for the Meliora Scholarship. Recipients of the Meliora Scholarships have demonstrated both academic achievement and the potential to make unique contributions to URochester student life. The Meliora Scholarship is a reward for students’ hard work in high school and a statement of our trust in their continued success here on campus. Meliora Scholarship awards range from $10,000 to $35,000 with an average award of $20,000.
Alan and Jane Handler Scholarship
With a permanently endowed fund, the prestigious Alan and Jane Handler Scholarship is awarded to highly qualified students with substantial levels of financial need. Scholars are selected based on academic excellence, outstanding potential to be future leaders, and demonstrated mastery of complex challenges. The Handler Scholarship is the University’s leading award. It provides recipients with complete financial support (tuition, fees, housing, food, books, personal expenses and transportation), as well as individual and group opportunities, for the duration of the regular academic program. The Handler Scholarship requires a nomination from a recommender who is not related to the prospective student.
Haudenosaunee Nations Scholarship
The Haudenosaunee Nations Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to academically excellent students coming to URochester from one of the six nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, or Tuscarora. The scholarship requires proof of tribal enrollment. The University is proudly centered near the Western Door of the Seneca Nation. The scholarship is a reward for their hard work in high school and an investment in their continued success here on campus.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
This scholarship of $10,000-$35,000 is awarded to transfer students who are inducted members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. The University of Rochester is committed to recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of two-year college students in their quest for academic excellence, leadership, and service. As members of Phi Theta Kappa, these scholarship recipients have demonstrated great achievement and the potential to make strong and unique contributions to URochester student life.
Pride Scholarship
The LGBTQ+ Pride Scholarship of $10,000-$35,000 is awarded to academically excellent students engaged with LGBTQ+ issues, who are excited to expand URochester’s passionate and diverse community, inclusive of sexual and gender identities. Completion of the Pride Scholarship Application is required for consideration. Applicants can find the Pride Scholarship Application in their MyROC account after submitting the undergraduate admissions application.
Rochester Promise
The University of Rochester is proud to offer the Rochester Promise, a source of funding specifically for Rochester City School District graduates. Awarded students will receive full tuition funding through a combination of federal, state and university grants. First-year and transfer applicants are both eligible. They must reside in the city of Rochester (or have resided in the city of Rochester during high school); have graduated from and spent their last two years at a Rochester City School District public or publicly chartered high school within city boundaries; have a family income less than twice the Monroe County average; and enroll in a full-time undergraduate program. For more details, see our Community Programs webpage.
Say Yes to Education
The University of Rochester is a proud partner of the Say Yes to Education Program. Say Yes students who are admitted to URochester, including all qualified graduates of the Syracuse and Buffalo City School Districts, and whose family income is less than or equal to $100,000, will receive full tuition funding through a combination of federal, state and university grants. This partnership highlights the University’s commitment to fostering quality education and providing exciting opportunities for all students, including those from financially-challenged urban school districts.
Steven J. Harrison Scholarship
This 1/3 tuition scholarship is awarded to students admitted to the GRADE (Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree in Education) Program, a five-year BA/BS + MSEd program for students interested in the field of education. The University of Rochester is honored to offer this scholarship in memory of Steven Harrison, a 2000 graduate of URochester and a 2001 graduate of the Warner School’s English teacher education program. He was a dedicated teacher at East High School and was taking leadership classes at the Warner School when he passed away in 2006. Get more information on GRADE.
The University of Rochester is pleased to sponsor four prestigious high school awards that recognize outstanding achievements in leadership and academics. Each year, participating high schools may nominate up to four qualified juniors, one for each of these awards. Of the nominees admitted to the University of Rochester, a select group of scholars are chosen to receive these merit scholarships. These high school awards range from $10,000 to $35,000 per year. More information can also be found on our Admissions page.
Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award
Every year since 1933, Bausch + Lomb and the University of Rochester have given this award to honor outstanding high school students who have demonstrated excellence in the sciences.
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences
The University of Rochester honors outstanding high school students who have made a commitment to addressing difficult social issues through study, action, and dialogue.
George Eastman Young Leaders Award
Every year, the University of Rochester honors outstanding achievement by high school students in leadership and academics with the George Eastman Young Leaders Award.
Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology
The University of Rochester honors exceptional high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the pursuit of innovative approaches and an appreciation for the possibilities of technology.
Scholarships for current students
Returning undergraduate students can apply for additional scholarships in addition to the scholarships they received as incoming first-year students.
The following scholarships are available to continuing students. Unlike incoming student scholarships, these scholarships require a separate application.
Continuing student scholarship for undergraduates