University of Rochester to Offer Free Tuition to Veterans

The University of Rochester, located in Rochester, New York, is a private university with about 4,800 undergraduate students and 2,900 full time graduate students. Current tuition for most of its offerings is $36,410 yearly.

The school is one of the top research universities, both in medicine and the sciences. Of note is the University of Rochester Medical Center where ground-breaking work in cardiac care, immunization technology and environmental medicine has been recognized by national and international authorities. The university houses the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, which researches the properties of light and its interactions with matter.

In September 2008, the university announced that it was creating a program that would allow veterans of the U.S. military to matriculate tuition free in nearly all of the university's undergraduate courses. Involved in this program are the school's College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, the undergraduate level of the Eastman School of Music and the Nursing School's RN to BS program.

The school's College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering offers a wide variety of majors for the incoming student. The sciences are strongly represented and undergraduate research is encouraged. Languages and the Social Sciences are also offered, including a somewhat unique major in American Sign Language. The Eastman School of Music is internationally known and its graduates play with or conduct some of the most famous symphony orchestras in the world.

The Rochester Pledge Scholarship is the vehicle that will fill in the gaps for veterans who choose the University of Rochester for their undergraduate degree. The prospective student will need to complete the standard financial aid paperwork, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The aid obtained through that mechanism will be combined with the student's veteran's benefits and any remaining balance will be covered by the Rochester Pledge Scholarship.

The university is enhancing its student services in anticipation of veterans enrolling through this offer. In addition to increased capacity for academic advising and counseling, veterans will also be offered the ability to reside in apartment-style housing, preferred parking and priority enrollment for courses.

Interested veterans should contact the university's Admissions Department. They can be reached at (585) 275-3221 or (toll free) (888) 822-2256. Their e-mail address is admit@admissions.rochester.edu and they can be found via most instant message service as URAdmissions every evening from 7-11 pm, except Friday and Saturday..

The Rochester area offers a diverse community of academic institutions, with a community college and four other undergraduate / graduate level institutions along with the University of Rochester. There are also two theological seminaries. The veteran attending the university will have the opportunity to live and study in a world-class academic community, filled with activities and programs for all tastes.