University of Rochester
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE PROVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY, NURSING AND MUSIC; RESEARCH; AND CHARITABLE PATIENT CARE SERVICES.
- Income
- $6.4 billion
- Spending
- $6.3 billion
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 37,371
- Volunteers
- 5,233
- Highest pay
- $3.2 million, professor - cardiac surgery m&d
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 36 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $1.2 billion spent. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES - THE UNIVERSITY IS COMPRISED OF SIX SCHOOLS OFFERING PROGRAMS FROM UNDERGRADUATE TO POST-DOCTORAL DEGREES. THESE ARE THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, THE HAJIM SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, THE WARNER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, SIMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SCHOOL OF NURSING, AND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY. THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INSTITUTE OF OPTICS, THE LABORATORY FOR LASER ENERGETICS, THE WILMOT CANCER CENTER, AND THE FLAUM EYE INSTITUTE. THE FULL-TIME FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES AS PART OF THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL PROGRAM; THIS ACTIVITY OCCURS 100 PERCENT WITHIN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND IS INTERNALLY ORGANIZED AND SUPERVISED AS URMFG OR UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL FACULTY GROUP. THERE ARE OVER 1,000 FULL-TIME TENURED FACULTY MEMBERS AND 11,211 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY HAS ALWAYS PLACED FINANCIAL AID FOR ITS STUDENTS AMONG ITS HIGHEST PRIORITIES. SCHOLARSHIPS COVER A PORTION OF THE COST OF ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER. THE UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO OFFERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATION TO ITS STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR BACKGROUND. FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNIVERSITY HAS A PROGRAM TO EXPAND HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM THE ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (RCSD), A DISTRICT WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST POVERTY AND SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES IN NEW YORK STATE. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES $25,000 PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS TO EVERY GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO IS ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING; THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO AN AWARD OF $100,000 FOR EACH STUDENT.THROUGH THE ENDOWMENT, THE UNIVERSITY PERPETUATES AND ENHANCES ITS EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH, CLINICAL CARE PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC SERVICE MISSIONS. THIS COMMITMENT REQUIRES AN ENDOWMENT PAYOUT OF 5.7 PERCENT CALCULATED ON A ROLLING FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE OF THE ENDOWMENT'S MARKET VALUE. THE UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT CONSISTS LARGELY OF INDIVIDUAL FUNDS THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF CHARITABLE DONORS. THE DONORS OF THESE GIFTS OFTEN SPECIFY AND RESTRICT THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE INCOME MAY BE SPENT TO ENSURE LONG-TERM BENEFITS.
- $417.2 million spent. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: THE UNIVERSITY PERFORMS RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND OTHER SERVICES UNDER GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND SIMILAR AGREEMENTS WITH SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS, PRIMARILY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE 5,897 GRANTS AND CONTRACTS IN EFFECT THAT TOTALED $405,546,489 IN REVENUE.ROCHESTER RESEARCHERS ARE SCIENTISTS AND SCHOLARS, INVENTORS AND CONSERVATORS, ARTISTS AND ANALYSTS. THEY KNOW MANY OF THE BEST BREAKTHROUGHS IN KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY OCCUR BY CROSSING BOUNDARIES. MANY OF THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND EXPLORATION ACROSS DISCIPLINES. RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER OCCURS IN 60 RESEARCH CENTERS AND INSTITUTES ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING: - THE LABORATORY FOR LASER ENERGETICS (LLE) - THE LASER LAB IS THE LARGEST UNIVERSITY-BASED DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM IN THE NATION AND IS HOME TO THE MOST POWERFUL LASER SYSTEMS FOUND AT ANY ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IN THE WORLD. AT THE LAB, RESEARCHERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD PROBE THE EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE IN LABORATORY-SCALE EXPERIMENTS. - THE INSTITUTE OF OPTICS - HOME TO THE NATION'S FIRST OPTICAL SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PROGRAM. THE INSTITUTE OF OPTICS HAS GRANTED ABOUT HALF OF ALL DEGREES IN OPTICS AWARDED IN THE U.S. - THE DEL MONTE INSTITUTE FOR NEUROSCIENCE - INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING TOGETHER NEUROSCIENCE AND RELATED DISCIPLINES- BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, BRAIN AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES, COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND NEUROLOGY. THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK HAS MADE POSSIBLE CRITICAL RESEARCH INTO ALZHEIMER'S, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AUTISM AND DYSLEXIA. - THE HUMANITIES CENTER - AN INTELLECTUAL HOME BASE FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, ARTISTS AND THE PUBLIC. RESEARCH PROJECTS AFFECT FIELDS BEYOND THE HUMANITIES, INCLUDING MEDICINE, BUSINESS, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. - MT. HOPE FAMILY CENTER - LEADING EXPERTS PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION SERVICES TO OVER 900 AT RISK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ANNUALLY. - INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC LEADERSHIP - DEVELOPING CREATIVE AND EFFECTIVE LEADERS FOR TODAY'S MUSICAL WORLD.
- $4.3 billion spent. SERVICES OF HOSPITAL AND CLINICS- THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (THE "UNIVERSITY") PROVIDES HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE GREATER ROCHESTER AND FINGER LAKES AREA THROUGH STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, STRONG HOME CARE GROUP, THE VARIOUS ENTITIES INCLUDED IN STRONG PARTNERS HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. (SPHS), F.F. THOMPSON HEALTH SYSTEM, INC., FINGER LAKES HEALTH SYSTEM, LIVINGSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, INC., THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF WILLIAM F. AND GERTRUDE F. JONES, INC. AND ST. JAMES HOSPITAL. TO SUPPORT THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH MISSIONS OF ITS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY AND ITS SCHOOL OF NURSING, THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER OPERATES STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL, WHICH INCLUDES THE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL FACULTY GROUP OPERATE AS UNINCORPORATED DIVISIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER. STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PROVIDES HEALTH CARE SERVICES THROUGH ITS INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT AND EMERGENCY FACILITIES. THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE HOSPITAL IS THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY. THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT CHAIRS ALSO FUNCTION AS THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE HOSPITAL. THERE ARE EXTENSIVE INTERN AND RESIDENT PROGRAMS. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES CARE REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENT'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES. DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE 306,564 TOTAL INPATIENT DAYS AND 122,653 EMERGENCY VISITS. IN ADDITION TO BEING A TEACHING FACILITY, THE HOSPITAL OPERATES IN A CHARITABLE MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) AND THE "COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD" OF IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. IN THIS REGARD, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE ORGANIZATION IS COMPOSED OF PROMINENT CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES IN THE HOSPITAL ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN THE AREA WHO ALSO CAN QUALIFY AS FULL OR PART-TIME FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY; THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS A FULL-TIME EMERGENCY ROOM OPEN TO ALL REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY; THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES CARE TO NEEDY MEMBERS OF ITS COMMUNITY WITH ITS CHARITY CARE POLICY REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES AND ADMITS AS PATIENTS THOSE ABLE TO PAY FOR CARE, EITHER THEMSELVES OR THROUGH THIRD-PARTY PAYERS SUCH AS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE OR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. THE HOSPITAL'S EXCESS FUNDS ARE GENERALLY APPLIED TO EXPANSION AND REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL RESEARCH, AMORTIZATION OF INDEBTEDNESS, IMPROVEMENTS IN PATIENT CARE, COMMUNITY BENEFIT ACTIVITIES AND CHARITY CARE.
- $152.3 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES- THE UNIVERSITY OPERATES EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGHTHIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS FOOD SERVICES WHICH SERVED 5,669 UNDERGRADUATES2,369,642 MEALS IN FIVE DINING SERVICES. THE UNIVERSITY HAS 777 UNITSUSED FOR STUDENT HOUSING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1934.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.