Best Online Education Programs in Rochester, NY (2026)
Rochester, New York has a population of about 209,720. The city’s median household income is $46,628 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 34 accredited schools offering education programs near Rochester, with tuition ranging from $5,800 to $82,600 per year for indexed programs. In the Rochester, NY metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $132,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Rochester
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 34 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Rochester. Distances are calculated from Rochester city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | 3.0 mi | $64,348 - $82,600 | – |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester, NY | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester, NY | 6.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 6.5 mi | $57,016 - $71,714 | – |
| Nazareth University | Rochester, NY | 6.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | Rochester, NY | 9.6 mi | $37,504 - $49,621 | – |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport, NY | 16.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo, NY | 27.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Finger Lakes Community College | Canandaigua, NY | 28.1 mi | $6,138 - $19,411 | – |
| Genesee Community College | Batavia, NY | 28.3 mi | $5,800 - $15,432 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New York schools on the New York education page.
Education Wages Near Rochester
Rochester is part of the Rochester, NY metro area (BLS area code 40380). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New York statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $65,230 | Rochester, NY | $67,247 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,840 | Rochester, NY | $64,784 |
| Middle School Teacher | $66,590 | Rochester, NY | $68,649 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $76,950 | Rochester, NY | $79,330 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $108,510 | Rochester, NY | $111,866 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $132,150 | Rochester, NY | $136,237 |
| Tutor | $44,580 | Rochester, NY | $45,959 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $60,100 | Rochester, NY | $61,959 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Rochester at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 209,720 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $46,628 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.0 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Monroe County | 28,018 workers, 331 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Rochester-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Brockport, NY – 16.6 mi away (20,142 pop)
- Geneva, NY – 38.3 mi away (29,371 pop)
- Lockport, NY – 54.4 mi away (34,859 pop)
- Auburn, NY – 55.3 mi away (31,263 pop)
- Oswego, NY – 59.4 mi away (38,208 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Rochester, NY?
Our directory has 34 accredited schools offering education programs near Rochester. The closest is University of Rochester in Rochester, NY (3.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Genesee Community College (28.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Rochester?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Rochester are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($132,150), Education Administrator, K-12 ($108,510), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($76,950). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New York statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Brockport instead of Rochester?
Brockport, NY is 16.6 miles from Rochester and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Rochester an affordable place to study education?
Rochester’s median household income of $46,628 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rochester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New York public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.