The starting point
Mid-size private research university in upstate New York with broad merit access (≈50% of admits get merit, averaging $14,000/year) and a meets-full-need promise — but a tight 'merit fills need before grants' rule means merit and need aid don't truly stack for need-eligible families.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
The 3 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Rochester Merit Scholarship (general)
Average around $14,000 per year (range not publicly disclosed; awarded to ~50% of admitted students) · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: All admitted undergraduate applicants to Arts, Sciences, Engineering, and Business are auto-considered. No separate application. Selection based on academic achievement, regardless of financial circumstances. Students are eligible to receive only ONE merit scholarship.
Renewal: Renewed annually for up to three additional years (4 total) with satisfactory academic performance and full-time status. Award amount is frozen at admission — does NOT increase with annual tuition and fee increases.
Other terms: Rochester explicitly states merit scholarships are used to meet financial need if need exists — for need-eligible students, the merit award effectively replaces the institutional grant rather than stacking on top. Net financial impact for need-eligible families is often zero from the merit alone.
https://www.rochester.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/
Bausch + Lomb Science Scholarship
$6,000 per year ($24,000 over four years) · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Winners of the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award (school-nominated junior, selected for academic excellence in science, rigor of science coursework, PSAT/SAT/ACT performance) are automatically considered upon application to Rochester. Selection is competitive based on overall strength of the admission application. Intended major is not a factor. Restricted to full-time freshmen entering the College — not transfers, not Eastman School of Music.
Renewal: Renewable for four years; subject to standard Rochester merit renewal terms (satisfactory academic performance + full-time enrollment).
Other terms: Sponsored since 1933 by Bausch + Lomb. Each high school may nominate one junior. There is no cap on the number of awards granted globally.
https://admissions.rochester.edu/high-school-awards/
High School Awards Program — General Nominee Merit
At least $5,000 per year for nominees admitted to Rochester · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: School-nominated juniors for the Rochester High School Awards Program (Bausch + Lomb, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award, Xerox Award, George Eastman Young Leaders' Award). All nominees admitted to Rochester are eligible for at least $5,000/year merit. Application fee waived for nominees.
Renewal: Recorded as renewable. Full renewal conditions are not recorded here; request them from the school.
Other terms: Nomination does not guarantee admission or a specific scholarship. The named scholarships (Bausch + Lomb Science Scholarship at $6,000/yr) layer for science nominees competitively.
https://admissions.rochester.edu/high-school-awards/
