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.
St. John Fisher University is a private, Catholic-affiliated institution in Rochester, NY, that operates less like a cloistered seminary and more like a pragmatic, career-focused launchpad. Its identity is split between a robust liberal arts core in the School of Arts and Sciences and powerhouse pre-professional programs in nursing, business, and health sciences that dominate its popular majors list. The vibe is suburban and communal, with a strong emphasis on campus life and a student body that largely comes from within New York State, creating an environment that feels familiar and supportive rather than intensely competitive.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
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
2,565
In-state tuition
$41,190
Out-of-state tuition
$41,190
Graduation Rate
74%
Average Class Size
20-25 students
Most Popular Major
Nursing
Median Mid-Career Salary
$66,453
Average Financial Aid Package
$30,592
Students Receiving Financial Aid
100%
Median Early-Career Salary (Bachelor's only)
$51,900
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$66,944
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
74%
First-year retention
86%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
75%
Pell (lower-income) share
29%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
25%
Financial health
2.4 / 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$62,253
Finance and Financial Management Services$50,022
Accounting and Related Services$43,128
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$42,908
Marketing$42,012
Economics
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
1.36
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
90
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
42.7"
Annual snow
44.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at St. John Fisher University?
St. John Fisher University's acceptance rate is approximately 66% (Rochester, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for St. John Fisher University?
Admitted students at St. John Fisher University typically score 1120–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does St. John Fisher University cost?
At St. John Fisher University, the average net price (after aid) is about $28,945 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend St. John Fisher University?
St. John Fisher University enrolls approximately 2,565 undergraduate students.
Where is St. John Fisher University located?
St. John Fisher University is located in Rochester, NY.
Admissions
St. John Fisher's admissions process is accessible and straightforward, characterized by a high and a policy. The university admits about two-thirds of all applicants, making it a realistic target for a broad range of students. The middle 50% of admitted students who submit test scores have an SAT range between 1120 and 1300. Admission is described as being based primarily on a student's academic record. The university accepts the Common Application and offers both Early Decision and Rolling Admissions options. Notably, the rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is relatively low, reported at 20.28% for a recent cycle, indicating that many admitted students choose other options. The process does not appear to hinge on demonstrated interest in the same way some highly selective schools do, as the factor grid (C7) is the standard resource for such policy details, though the specific rating for Fisher is not detailed in the provided snippets.
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.
$41,565
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,017
Human Resources Management and Services$40,017
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.
Fisher's academic profile is defined by a clear tension between a traditional liberal arts education and dominant, career-oriented health and business programs. The university offers majors across the humanities, social sciences, sciences, business, nursing, education, and pharmaceutical studies. However, the distribution of students tells the real story: Health Professions and Related Programs account for 32% of graduates, and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services make up 18%. Nursing is by far the most popular major. This creates a campus where pre-med, nursing, and business students are a significant presence, while programs in the School of Arts and Sciences aim to provide disciplinary mastery. The average class size is reported to be 20-25 students, supporting a more personalized instructional environment. The curriculum seems designed to provide practical pathways; popular majors beyond nursing include Biology, Psychology, Finance, and Sport and Fitness Management.
Life at Fisher is intensely campus-centric, with the university promoting a full slate of activities, clubs, and traditions designed to foster community. The campus itself is marketed as having a robust athletics program, nationally-ranked dining, and modern spaces for student engagement. A strong emphasis is placed on shared experiences and traditions that unite students across generations. The environment is perceived as safe and secure; 97% of students report feeling extremely safe on campus. The social and academic culture, as glimpsed through informal channels, suggests a range of student perspectives, with some students being "extremely liberal" while the overall institutional affiliation is Catholic. The location in Rochester provides access to a mid-sized city, but the university clearly invests in making the campus itself the primary hub for student life.
The return on investment narrative at Fisher is solid, particularly for a regional private university. The median early-career salary for alumni with only a bachelor's degree is $51,900, climbing to a mid-career median of $66,453. The university has been recognized on national lists like the Wall Street Journal's rankings, which consider factors such as graduate salaries and value. The graduation rate is a key strength, significantly above the national midpoint for four-year colleges. This suggests that students who enroll are supported through to completion. The outcomes data paints a picture of a school that successfully prepares graduates, especially in its high-demand health and business fields, for entry into the professional workforce with strong earning potential.
Like many private institutions, Fisher's sticker price is substantial, but it is heavily offset by financial aid for most students. The published tuition is $43,736. Crucially, 100% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive some form of grant or scholarship aid. The average aid package is reported to be $30,592. Students are required to file the FAFSA annually to be considered for aid. The university provides a Calculator for prospective students to estimate their individual cost. While aid is nearly universal, the specifics of a "no-loan" policy or a guarantee to meet full demonstrated need are not detailed in the provided sources; the aid policy appears to be a mix of merit and need-based awards that reduce, but do not always eliminate, the net price for families.
St. John Fisher University stands out for its unambiguous, successful formula: it provides a traditional campus life experience tightly coupled with direct pipelines to stable, well-compensated professions. It doesn't aspire to be a cutthroat, national liberal arts college, nor does it pretend to be a need-blind Ivy. Instead, it occupies a pragmatic niche. Its stellar graduation rate indicates an institution that supports students to the finish line, and the strong mid-career salary outcomes validate the market relevance of its top programs. The campus is the center of the universe for students, offering a cohesive, secure environment. For a student focused on nursing, business, or health sciences who wants a classic residential college experience with a clear career trajectory—and who finds the financial aid offer workable—Fisher represents a compelling, low-drama choice that delivers measurable results.
St. John Fisher University seal · sourceSt. John Fisher University | College of Distinction · sourceSt. John Fisher University - Niche · sourceSt. John Fisher University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
