How to Apply to Undergraduate Business at the University of Rochester: Declare the BS or BA in Business After Calculus and Statistics, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao Accepted), Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Rochester, undergraduate business is offered by the Barry Florescue Undergraduate Business Program, designed with Simon Business School. Rochester says the program moved into Simon Business School in fall 2026, and its FAQ states that Simon grants the undergraduate business degrees starting with the Class of 2027. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Rochester’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Studying business: declare after entry

• No separate business application: you apply to the University of Rochester and declare business after entry. Rochester notes you can start business courses before finishing the pre-major courses.
• Declaring: once the pre-major requirements in calculus and statistics are complete, you submit a major declaration form; Rochester publishes no GPA threshold for declaring business.
• Calculus: MATH 141-142 (Calculus I and II) or MATH 171 (Honors Calculus I); the FAQ also lists MATH 161. MATH 143 or 162/172 is strongly recommended for the finance track.
• Statistics: one of STAT 180, STAT 190, ECON 230, MATH 203, STAT 216, PSCI 200 or 205; the finance track requires a designated course such as STAT 190, ECON 230 or MATH 203.
• AP and IB: AP and IB credit in math and statistics satisfies the pre-major; students with AP or IB credit for ECON 108 take one additional 200-level economics course.

2. BS and BA (new curriculum from fall 2026)

• Nine core courses (same for both): Principles of Economics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Financial Accounting, Business Communication, Financial Management, Principles of Marketing, Business Information Systems and Analytics, Operations Management, and Economics of Strategy and Organization.
• BS in Business: pre-major plus 15 courses (nine core and six or seven track courses), with one track declared. The BS page lists seven tracks (accounting, AI, business analytics, finance, entrepreneurship, information systems, marketing); the FAQ lists six (without AI). Both are given here; check the course page when you declare. The accounting track qualifies you to sit for the CPA exam in New York State, though licensure needs further coursework.
• BA in Business: pre-major plus 12 courses (nine core and three electives), with no track and a required second major.
• STEM: the FAQ states that both the BS and BA in business are STEM-designated.
• Business Master’s Pathway: a five-year bachelor’s plus MS route into Simon’s Accountancy, AI in Business, Business Analytics, Marketing Analytics or Finance programs.
• Double majors: allowed with other fields, but not two business tracks, or a business major plus the business minor.

3. Deadlines for applying to Rochester

• Early Decision I (binding): due 1 November, decisions in mid-December.
• Priority scholarship deadline: 1 December for the strongest scholarship consideration.
• Early Decision II and Regular Decision: due 5 January; Regular decisions on 1 April.
• Materials: secondary transcript, one teacher recommendation, school report and counselor recommendation, mid-year grades, supplement and essay; $50 fee. An interview is strongly recommended.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Test optional, Gaokao accepted: you can submit no scores, or use flexible testing with AP, IB, A-level or national exam results. Rochester’s list includes the Chinese Gaokao, verifiable through CHESICC.
• English: students schooled in non-English-speaking countries must submit Duolingo, IELTS or TOEFL. Recommended: Duolingo 130, IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 100 (old) or 5 (new).
• Calculus and statistics: AP or IB credit from high school can satisfy the business pre-major after entry.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Same deadlines; for flexible testing, Canada is listed with provincial high school diploma results.
• Native English speakers or students with at least three years at an English-medium high school can request an English waiver.

6. Costs, aid and scholarships

• 2026-27 costs (US$): tuition 71,750, mandatory fees 1,622, housing 12,822, plus food and other costs, for a total of about 96,022. Rochester mentions no separate business fee.
• Need-based aid: Rochester meets full demonstrated need for admitted students, but for international applicants financial need is a factor in admission and only a few receive aid. Submit the IFSF if you do not need aid, or the CSS Profile if you do.
• Merit scholarships: all applicants are considered regardless of citizenship, with no extra application.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall 15 March (priority), spring 15 October. Transfers average a 3.3+ GPA, with a typical admitted median of 3.5.
• No direct admission to business: transfers also declare after entry; those entering from fall 2026 follow the new curriculum.
• Limits on outside courses toward the major:
  • incoming sophomores: up to 4 non-UR courses, no more than 3 from non-AACSB schools;
  • incoming juniors: up to 5 non-UR courses, no more than 3 from non-AACSB schools;
  • each business course needs a separate submission form, reviewed by the track advisor in about 8 to 9 business days.
• Economics: ECON 108 credit requires outside coursework covering both micro- and macroeconomics.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Rochester by 1 November (ED I), 1 December (priority scholarship) or 5 January
• Decide whether to submit SAT, ACT, AP or Gaokao results; recommended English: Duolingo 130, IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL 5 (new)
• After entry, take calculus and statistics (a designated course for finance) and then declare business
• If you need aid, submit the CSS Profile; need affects international admission

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; use provincial diploma results for flexible testing; three years at an English-medium high school can support a waiver

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 15 March; 4 to 5 outside business courses at most can count, each reviewed separately

Sources: University of Rochester, Barry Florescue Undergraduate Business Program; BS in business requirements; BA in business requirements; Business program FAQ; Business transfer credit policy; Dates and deadlines; International students; Testing policies; Transfer students; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition and expenses. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check the University of Rochester for the latest details.