Case Western Reserve University vs University of Rochester

Case Western Reserve University vs University of Rochester

Case Western Reserve University is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio within the Cleveland metropolitan area. It is mid-sized with 12,200 undergraduate students. Case Western admissions are competitive as its acceptance rate is approximately 29%. Its majors are Engineering, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and Business. Six-year graduation rate is 85%, and Case Western graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 65,73,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $79,300 median earnings).

University of Rochester is a highly regarded private university located in Rochester, New York in the Rochester metropolitan area. It is a mid-sized university with 12,000 undergrad students. The University of Rochester admissions are very competitive as the acceptance rate of the University of Rochester is around 35.9%. Majors are offered in Biology, Nursing, Economics, Engineering, and Political Science. The six-year graduation rate is 85%, and the median starting salary for Rochester graduates is around INR 57,83,000 (ten years following graduation, converted from $69,700 median earnings).

Overview Comparison
Case Western Reserve UniversityUniversity of Rochester
Collegedunia Score5.8 Out of 105.8 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 145 Times Higher Education 2026
# 294 QS World University 2026
# 150 Center for World University Rankings 2025
# 127 Times Higher Education 2026
# 236 QS World University 2026
# 79 Center for World University Rankings 2025
Subject Strength# 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 88 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 107 for Law by US News 2025
# 43 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -48
PG Programs -56
Doctorate Programs -26
UG Programs -68
PG Programs -49
Doctorate Programs -4
Acceptance Rate26.0 %35.9 %
Exam ScoreGMAT-610
GRE-328
IELTS-7
SAT-1340
TOEFL-90
GMAT-680
IELTS-7.5
SAT-1300
TOEFL-100
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   49804
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  44160
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 22614 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   52543.87
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  57750
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 10494 Per Year
placement (average package)

Graduate Employability Ranking: #201-250
Highest paid CWRU graduates are financial service professionals with $240,000 average salary. 51.1% MBA graduates are employed right after graduation. Companies hiring graduates include Amazon, Bank of America, Nestle, Philips Healthcare, Keybank, Vertical Data and several Fortune 500 companies. 
Doctorate: $165,000
MBA: $138,000
Master in Science: $130,000
Bachelor of Science: $107,000


In 2019 the institute had MBA employment rate of 91% after 3 months of Postgraduation. Average salary is around142,166 USD/year. Top hiring companies include Amazon.com, Bank of America, Citigroup, Deloitte, Facebook, Fedex, Google, Gartner, Mckinsey & Company, PWC, Tesla, Morgan Stanley.
Executive MBA: $317,000
MBA: $188,000
Doctorate: $130,000
MS in Finance: $96,000
Baclelor of Arts: $90,000
Masters in Science: $81,000


application requirements

Official High School Transcripts.
School Report.
Counselor Recommendation.
Two Teacher Recommendation.
Arts Supplement (Videos, Creative Samples)  for Applying to Music Major.
College Financial Aid Profile.

SAT Reasoning Exam Score and Subject Test Score (2 or more scores)
ACT Scores
English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS, TOEFL or PTE
3 LORs for Postgradute Courses
Academic Certificates-Official High School Transcripts
Course by Course evaluation Transcripts
International Financial Support Form (IFSF)

CollegeDunia Reviews6.1/10 Read 4 reviews8.2/10 Read 5 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 82 for Business by US News 2025
# 251 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 451 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 32 for Business by US News 2025
# 151 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 351 for Business by QS World University 2025
exam scoresGMAT - 610/800IELTS - 7/9PTE - 61/90TOEFL - 90/120Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesOct 6, 2023 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake)
Feb 10, 2024 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake)
Jun 9, 2024 (Application Deadline For Summer Intake)
Jan 5, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Feb 15, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Mar 31, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
May 1, 2026 (Round 5 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Oct 15, 2026 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2027 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsCase Western Reserve UniversityUniversity of Rochester
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1826
1850
Student:Faculty Ratio7:1
4:1
Male:Female55% Male, 45% Female50% Male, 50% Female
Location Facts

Located in Cleveland Ohio, the campus is approximately 5 miles east of Downtown Cleveland. Adjacent to the historic Wade Park District it is surrounded by University Circle neighborhood (550 acres), the area is concentrated with educational, medical, and cultural institutions. A number of programs are taught in conjunction with nearby institutions.


Rochester metro area is easily navigable and campuses are a short drive from Greater Rochester International Airport. Considerablly closer to Toronto rather than New York City the university is located south of downtown Rochester at the bend of Genesee river.


Library

The university operates 8 libraries including the main Kelvin Smith Library. The Astronomy Library holds 3,000 books, 4,000 periodical volumes, 480 observatory publications. Cleveland Health Sciences Library has 380,000 volumes and 1,700 journal subscriptions. Kulas Music Library houses 42,000 books on music. Lillian F and Milford J Harris Library holds 40,000 books and 700 media items.


River Campus has 6 libraries with a collection of university archives, Eastman School of Music has nearly 750,000 holdings in scores, books and journals. Medical Center has 4 libraries featuring rare books and manuscripts from the medicine field and the Memorial Art Gallery has resources for K-12 teachers.


Campus Life

Minutes away from downtown Cleveland known as America’s Hottest City, CWRU is located in University Circle. Uptown district’s mix of dining, retail and nightlife makes it an ideal place to study. Popular restaurants include Chiptole, Panera, The Corner Alley where students bowl a game while grabbing a bite. Also Home to Sear think (box)- the, Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center for intramural programs, Health Science Quad.


Rochester’s tight knit campuses have 275 organizations and clubs, health care and counselling centers, URMC fitness center. Formal academic events in Rochester include Plutzik Reading Series, Studio Arts programs, Inspire Dance festival and International Theatre program. 23 varsity teams compete for the Liberty League and University Athletic association.


Hostel#Rooms and Board - $16080
#On campus - $10494
Famous Alumni

17 Nobel Laureates are associated with CWRU in addition to Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (movie directors), Paul Buchheit (lead developer Gmail), Craig Newmark (founder of craigslist), Peter Tippett (vaccine developer), Larry Hurtado (scholar), Harvey Hilbert (psychologist), Peter Sterling (neuroscientist), Donand Knuth (scientist). 


Edward Gibson (Physicist), Katherine Hayles (Academic), Robert Forster (Film Producer), Rene Richards (Tennis Player), Galway Kinnell (Poet), Peter van Inwagen (Philosopher), Bill Kauffman (Journalist), Steven Chu (Physicist), Richard Thaler (Economist), Aurthur R Mileer (Law Professor), Joseph Martin (Doctor), Paul Singer (Businessman), Susan Hockfiels (Neuroscientist).


City Life

Cleveland is a major city in the state of Ohio located on the southern shore of Lake Erie across the U.S maritime border with Canada. Popularly known as the forest city, major cultural institutions include Cleveland Museum of Art, Orchestra and Roll Hall of Fame. It is the center of the Metropark Nature Reserve System. Ohio’s unemployment rate stands at 10.9% in June 2020 better than the national unemployment rate. 


Rochester is New York’s third largest metropolitan area with a unique blend of history and innovation. Unemployment rate is 11.3% as of June 2020. Though the university itself is the 2nd largest employer in New York area and largest employer in Greater Rochester area. The city has a low cost of living than the US national average. Festivals celebrating artisans like AppleUmpkin, Seabreeze amusement park, lake Ontario, Buffalo Bill’s training camp, and over 3,500 nationally recognized parks make Rochester, NY a lucrative destination. 


Weather
Comparison Notes

Case Western Reserve University versus University of Rochester

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Case Western Reserve University and the University of Rochester are both highly-ranked private research universities in the United States with comparable global profiles.Case Western Reserve University ranks #294 in QS and 159th in Times Higher Education whereas University of Rochester? ranks #236 in QS and 127th in Times Higher Education. In subject strengths, Case Western Reserve University is particularly strong in engineering, computer science, and health sciences (through its connections to the Cleveland Clinic). The University of Rochester excels in optics, biomedical sciences, engineering, and music through the Eastman School of Music.

General Information

Case Western Reserve University, established in 1826, is situated in Cleveland, Ohio, with around 12,000 students. It is especially famous for its cooperative nature and focus on technology, healthcare, and research. The University of Rochester, established in 1850, is situated in Rochester, New York, and has around 12,000 students too. It is famous for its adaptive curriculum, excellent research-oriented approach, and harmony between arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

The acceptance rate for Case Western Reserve University is approximately 29 percent, and admissions are competitive, particularly for engineering, pre-medical programs, and computer science. The University of Rochester also has an acceptance rate of roughly 35.9 percent, with selectivity amplified for its music, biomedical, and engineering programs. Holistic review processes are applied by both universities, taking into consideration GPA, coursework rigor, personal essays, and extracurricular activities.

Research Impact & Facilities

Case Western Reserve University is an R1: Doctoral University with very high research activity, with outstanding facilities in engineering and health sciences, including collaborations with the Cleveland Clinic, one of the world's leading medical centers. The University of Rochester is also rated R1, with highly respected international research facilities like the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, the University of Rochester Medical Center, and the Eastman School of Music. Both are good in biomedical and applied science, but Rochester is a little more advanced in optics and music, and Case Western Reserve has special preeminence in healthcare innovation.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both institutions are private and have high tuition rates. Case Western Reserve University's yearly tuition rate is roughly $64,000, and the University of Rochester's is roughly $63,000. Both provide generous need-based grants and scholarships, as well as international student opportunities. Living expenses vary: Cleveland tends to provide lower living costs than Rochester, although both cities are relatively affordable in relation to large metropolitan areas.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Case Western Reserve University graduates excel in engineering, medicine, technology, and business, many of them going on to careers related to healthcare and innovation as a result of its medical collaborations. University of Rochester graduates are well represented in healthcare, research, engineering, business, and the arts, and particularly excel in music, biomedical sciences, and fields related to optics. Both institutions have close-knit alumni bases, Case Western Reserve more specifically linked to the fields of technology and healthcare, and Rochester with music, research, and academia.