Admit rate has ranged 64%–73% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Rockhurst University is a Jesuit liberal arts school in Kansas City that punches above its weight with strong health sciences and business programs, a 96% post-grad success rate, and an unusually engaged campus culture. While its 70% acceptance rate suggests accessibility, its students—who average a 3.69 GPA—benefit from the rigor of a curriculum steeped in Ignatian values of critical thinking and service.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,580
In-state tuition
$44,966
Out-of-state tuition
$44,966
Acceptance Rate
69.6%
Graduation Rate
77%
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Post-Grad Success Rate
96.2%
Avg Need-Based Aid Award
$34,217
Total Cost of Attendance
$66,433
Median Earnings (Post-10Yrs)
$76,125
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$67,102
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$18,250
Graduation rate
75%
First-year retention
79%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
First-generation share
21%
Endowment / student
$23,098
Financial health
1.9 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$60,213
Business/Commerce, General$43,957
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$35,060
English Language and Literature, General$32,925
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$30,988
Biology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
1.90
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
73
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
48.2"
Annual snow
18.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
59
Scholarly works
863
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.6%
Bottom → top quintile
38%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Rockhurst University?
Rockhurst University's acceptance rate is approximately 70% (Kansas City, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Rockhurst University cost?
At Rockhurst University, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,884 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Rockhurst University?
Rockhurst University enrolls approximately 1,580 undergraduate students.
Where is Rockhurst University located?
Rockhurst University is located in Kansas City, MO.
Admissions
Rockhurst's admissions process leans accessible but academically serious, with a 69.6% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (from 2,197 applications in 2024) and Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies. The enrolled freshman class typically boasts a 3.69 average high school GPA, with middle 50% ACT scores between 22-28. Notably, only about 18% of admitted students ultimately enroll—suggesting it's often a 'safety school' for high achievers eyeing more selective Jesuit institutions.
The university offers 50+ majors with standout programs in health professions (especially nursing and physical therapy) and business—its graduate business specialties recently ranked among the nation's top 30. The Jesuit emphasis on 'cura personalis' (care for the whole person) translates to small classes (student-faculty ratio of 11:1) and a core curriculum heavy on philosophy, theology, and ethics. Nearly a quarter of students pursue dual degrees through partnerships with nearby institutions like UMKC.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$30,119
Psychology, General$28,960
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$28,212
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
With 39% of students living on campus, Rockhurst fosters tight-knit community through traditions like the 'Rockstock' concert and service-oriented clubs. The modern 'Rock Room' student center is a hub for socializing, while Greek life (21% participation) anchors weekend activities. Kansas City's urban amenities—from jazz clubs to internships at Cerner and Hallmark—are a 10-minute drive away, though the leafy 55-acre campus feels insulated.
Rockhurst delivers exceptional ROI: 96.2% of graduates secure employment or grad school admission within six months, with median earnings of $76,125—26% above the national average for 4-year colleges. The 77% graduation rate far exceeds Missouri's average, and alumni networks in KC healthcare (Children's Mercy, St. Luke's) and Fortune 500s (Sprint, H&R Block) provide pipelines for internships.
At $66,433 total Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid., Rockhurst is pricey but generous—66% of freshmen receive Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. averaging $34,217, and merit scholarships (like the full-tuition Presidential Scholarship) reward high GPAs. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests most students pay significantly less than sticker, with average annual costs around $25,884 after aid.
Rockhurst merges Jesuit intellectual rigor with Midwestern pragmatism—think theology seminars that segue into hospital shadowing. Its secret sauce? Location: Kansas City offers big-city opportunities without cutthroat competition (unlike St. Louis' WashU or Chicago's Loyola). Outcomes: That 96% placement rate rivals elite schools. Vibe: More collaborative than cutthroat, with a 'work hard, serve hard' ethos evident in its 100,000+ annual community service hours.
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