
Rochester, NYprivate nonprofittiuny.org
Admit rate has ranged 83%–100% 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.
The Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York is a tiny, ultra-Orthodox yeshiva in Rochester with a singular focus: intensive Talmudic study in the Lithuanian Haredi tradition. With just 31 students, a 4:1 student-teacher ratio, and a 100% acceptance rate, it operates more like a tight-knit religious seminary than a conventional college—no SATs required, no secular curriculum, and days structured around prayer and Torah study.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
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.
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.
Campus & location
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.
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.
Getting into TIUNY is about religious commitment, not GPA or test scores. The school accepts virtually all applicants—reported Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. range from 66.7% to 100% across sources, with raw numbers as low as 3 applicants in a given year. The 2023 cohort saw 3 applications, 3 acceptances, and 13 enrolled students (a YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. rate suggesting many may transfer from other yeshivas). Notably, the school doesn't require SAT/ACT scores or essays, focusing instead on rabbinic recommendations and alignment with its Orthodox Jewish mission.
This is a one-major institution: Talmudic and Rabbinical Studies, taught entirely in the Lithuanian yeshiva style (non-Hasidic but Haredi Orthodox). The academic program revolves around Gemara (Talmud) study in paired _chavrusa_ partnerships, with supplementary classes in Halacha (Jewish law) and Mussar (ethical development). There's no secular curriculum—this is a full-immersion religious training ground.
Life at TIUNY follows the rhythm of Orthodox Jewish practice: predawn prayers, 10+ hours of Talmud study, and strict adherence to kosher laws. Founded in 1974 by Rabbis Davidowitz and Harris, the yeshiva occupies a modest building in Rochester's Jewish community. With only 16-31 students (sources vary), it's more like an extended family than a campus—students live nearby, often with local families, and social life revolves around synagogue and holiday observances.
Most students don't come for a degree—they come for Torah study. The 17% graduation rate reflects the yeshiva world's norm of extended study without formal credentialing. Alumni typically become rabbis, teachers, or kosher supervisors, though earnings data is scarce. The College Scorecard notes a negative ROI (-20.1%), but that misses the point: this isn't a vocational school, it's a lifelong religious commitment.
Tuition is strikingly low for a private institution—$6,150 annually with no distinction between in-state and out-of-state students. After aid, the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $4,000/year. Nearly all students receive grants (100% coverage reported), with average aid packages of $9,884. Housing costs aren't bundled into tuition; most students live off-campus in the Orthodox community.
TIUNY is among America's purest expressions of Lithuanian-style yeshiva education—no compromises, no secular distractions. Its microscopic size (fewer students than some seminar rooms at NYU) and 4:1 student-teacher ratio allow for unparalleled rabbinic mentorship. While its 17% graduation rate would doom a conventional college, here it reflects the yeshiva world's ethos: learning isn't about degrees, but lifelong Torah study. For Haredi Jews seeking rigorous Gemara training outside NYC's distractions, Rochester's quiet intensity is the draw.



