First-Year Admissions FAQs

Where is St. John Fisher University?

St. John Fisher University is located on 154 park-like acres in the town of Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester, New York. The campus is about seven miles outside the city and is within 90 miles of Buffalo and Syracuse.

There are nearly 2,600 undergraduate students at Fisher; 60% are female and 40% are male.

How much is tuition at Fisher?

Current tuition information, including housing and meal plan costs, can be found on our tuition, fees, and estimated costs page. You should also review our scholarship page!

What majors and minors are available?

Fisher offers over 35 undergraduate majors in the humanities, natural sciences, business, education, and nursing, as well as numerous pre-professional programs. Explore all our majors and minors.

National surveys state that most students enroll at a college within 1-3 hours from home, and Fisher students follow the national trend. Ninety percent of Fisher students are from New York state. Other states represented are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Florida, California, Arizona, and Puerto Rico.

What is the high school academic profile of your average first-year student?

The middle 50% of accepted students to Fisher have a cumulative high school GPA ranging from an 87 to a 94; SAT scores ranging from 1070 to 1220; and/or ACT scores ranging from 21 to 26. This means that 50% of our accepted students fall within these ranges, 25% of our accepted students are above these ranges, and 25% of our accepted students fall below these ranges. Because we have a holistic review process, there is not one specific set of scores that defines an accepted Fisher student.

Note: Fisher is test-optional

What if I don't have these scores?

The admissions committee bases admission decisions on you as an overall student. It's important to include a teacher/guidance counselor recommendation, information regarding any extracurricular activities/volunteer work, a personal statement or essay or graded paper of at least 250 words, and any additional information you would like us to have.

Note: Fisher is test-optional

What is the average class size?

St. John Fisher University has an average class size of 20-25 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1.

Do you offer liberal arts?

Yes. You will complete a liberal arts core requirement as part of your Fisher degree. This provides a broadened educational experience and helps you explore different topics and interests.

What are Fisher's SAT/ACT Codes?

SAT Code is: 2798
ACT Code is: 2886

Note: Fisher is test-optional

Who are the Basilians?

The Basilian Fathers are a religious order of priests who combine the intellectual curiosity in academic training of the Jesuits with the kindness and caring manner of the Franciscans. Their motto, "Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge," expresses the emphasis on values derived from our religious heritage.

Do you have to be Catholic to attend Fisher?

No. St. John Fisher University is an independent institution in the Basilian tradition of higher education. While many students who attend Fisher are from Catholic backgrounds, we do have students, faculty, and staff from many different religious backgrounds.

There is always something to do at Fisher. You may choose from a wide range of campus clubs and organizations, including student government, music groups, language clubs, cultural organizations, student publications, and intramural sports. Many academic departments also sponsor clubs.

The food is great! In fact, Fisher was ranked No. 5 in America and No. 1 in New York state by Niche.com in their 2023 Best College Food in America list.

The main dining hall offers a wide variety of interactive dining platforms including the wokery, salad and fresh fruit bar, deli counter, grill, pasta bar, brick oven pizza, vegetarian section, and more. Several other retail outlets across campus offer coffee, smoothies, Grab & Go items, and more to suit your busy schedule.

Learn more about dining services.

What sports are offered?

Fisher competes in 24 varsity sports at the NCAA Division III level and is part of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference, the ECAC, and the Liberty League (rowing).

Men compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

Women compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

Learn more about Fisher Athletics.

Are there opportunities for community service?

Yes. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to get involved with on- and off-campus through the Community Service Office and student organizations such as Students Who Advocate Volunteering (SWAV).

Learn more about community service at Fisher.

No. However, 90% of first-year students do live on campus and are housed in three residence halls on campus: Ward, Haffey, or Murphy.

Learn more about residential life at Fisher.

Do I need to bring a computer with me?

No, although many students do bring their own. Fisher has a 24-hour computer lab accessible by ID card at any time. Also, computers can be found in other areas such as Lavery Library and Cyber Café.

First-year residential student parking will be available on a limited basis with approval.

What is a Learning Community?

Learning Communities are designed to help you make a smooth transition to college, both academically and socially. In the program, you'll take two courses that focus around a central theme, examining the topic from multiple perspectives. This provides the opportunity to learn cooperatively and develop close working relationships with other students and faculty.

Fisher is a very safe campus. The Office of Safety and Security is responsible for campus safety and operates on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week schedule. Security officers conduct regular foot and auto patrols of all campus buildings, grounds, and parking areas.

Access to the residence halls is controlled by the card access system. Residence halls are patrolled and monitored by security officers or resident assistants. All other campus facilities are locked and unlocked daily according to established schedules.

The Office of Safety and Security offers a campus escort service for on-campus use by all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Do you offer help with job placement?

Yes, the Center for Career and Academic Planning (CCAP) provides support to students and alumni. CCAP offers services in career exploration, job search workshops, career counseling, on-campus recruiting, job postings, job fairs, and career alumni referral.

Learn more about the career exploration services available through the Center for Career and Academic Planning.

How do students go about getting a work-study job?

Work-study job listings are available on the Fisher Handshake website and is posted at various locations around campus. Non-work study jobs are also available in many offices throughout campus.

Find out more about student employment.

Do you have fraternities and sororities?

No, there are no fraternities or sororities at Fisher. However, there are a vast number of active clubs and organizations on campus that promote a close-knit college community.

Can students smoke in the residence halls?

No, residence halls are non-smoking.

How do I apply for first-year admission?

In order for the admissions staff to review a file for admission, it MUST include:

• A completed application submitted through the Common Application
• High school transcript
• Official SAT or ACT scores
  (Note: Fisher is test-optional. Test scores are considered official if sent from the testing agency or directly from the high school.)
  
• Counselor/Teacher Recommendation
• Personal statement or essay or graded paper (minimum of 250 words)

How does the Admission Committee make its decision?

Admission is based primarily on a student's high school record, SAT or ACT scores (if submitted), course curriculum, extracurricular activities, counselor and teacher recommendations, and personal statement or essay or graded paper.

Note: Fisher is test-optional

Do you have Early Decision?

Fisher subscribes to a single-choice Early Decision Plan. This plan is designed for students who have made Fisher their choice for college. The Admissions Office assumes that students will not apply to more than one institution as Early Decision applicants. Students should submit their Early Decision application no later than December 1. If admitted to Fisher, students are expected to withdraw their applications from other colleges. Students admitted under the Early Decision Plan have until March 15 to submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit.

Now that my application has been accepted, what's next?

The next step is to apply for financial aid. In fact, each year all of Fisher's first-year students receive some sort of financial assistance. Our average financial aid offer to incoming students is nearly $22,000. To apply for need-based aid, Fisher requires all students to complete the FAFSA form. The preferred filing date for this form is January 15.

What is so important about May 1?

Once your application is accepted, you have until May 1 to let us know if you plan to enroll in the fall. Please submit your enrollment deposit online to secure your space for the fall class. We have limited space available for new first-year students and, after May 1, we may not be able to accommodate you in terms of admission, financial aid, or housing.

Does Fisher accept University in High School Program and/or AP Credits?

Fisher recognizes the Advanced Placement Program and will grant standing and college credit for courses in harmony with its curriculum to students who complete the Advanced Placement Test with grades in accordance with information outlined on the AP, IB, and CLEP Scores page.

In recognition of the college-level coursework being completed at the high school level, Fisher will consider granting credit for any coursework in which a student earns a grade of "C" or better. Once we have received the official college transcript, Fisher will evaluate all credits on a case-by-case basis.

Contact the Center for Career and Academic Planning or consult the AP, IB, and CLEP Scores page for further information.

What types of financial aid are available?

• Merit scholarships, which can range from $7,500 to $19,000 per year. In order to be considered for merit-based scholarships, your application must be postmarked by January 15.
• Federal, state, and private grants.
• Need-based and non-need-based aid (need is determined by the results of the FAFSA).
• Work-study (part-time employment).
• Various types of loans.

» Learn more about scholarship opportunities.