Our Location

Where is Rochester, exactly?

Rochester sits on the shore of Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. It’s the third-largest city in the state, located between Buffalo and Syracuse, at the doorstep of the scenic Finger Lakes region. The metro area has about a million people — big enough to have a real city with a real airport (10 minutes from campus) and things to do, but small enough to not feel overwhelming. You can get around town by car in 15 to 20 minutes.

Rochester has a strong arts/music culture. It’s a birthplace of civil rights and entrepreneurs. It’s surrounded by rivers, lakes, and a canal. You’ll find strong fan traditions in baseball (Rochester Red Wings), ice hockey (Rochester Amerks), and lacrosse (Rochester Knighthawks), and Rochester is a major hub for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

Rochester is:

a 90-minute drive from Niagara Falls
a 3-hour drive from Toronto
a 5-hour drive from Philadelphia
a 6-hour drive from New York City and Boston
a short flight from major hubs like D.C., Chicago, Charlotte, and Atlanta

Map shows Nazareth's location in Rochester, between Buffalo and Albany. Shows NYC, Syracuse & more.

Four full seasons

Four things that may surprise out-of-towners

1. Rochester is a tech and innovation hub. Rochester was built by inventors. It's the birthplace of Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch + Lomb, and today it's one of the country's leading centers for optics, photonics, and imaging technology, plus a major hub for healthcare, biotech, and higher education. The University of Rochester Medical Center is one of the region's largest employers and a nationally recognized health care system. Translation: internships, research opportunities, and career connections are nearby. And instead of competing with tens of thousands of students for opportunities, you'll build relationships with employers who know Nazareth students and graduates and value their preparation.

2. So much water — including a waterfall right downtown. Rochester is not only on a Great Lake, but also has the 96-foot High Falls on the Genesee River in the heart of the city. And the historic Erie Canal is a short walk from campus. The picturesque waterways are the kind of thing students post about the first week and then just get used to having nearby.

3. A surprisingly big arts and music scene. In addition to the great shows and performances right on campus, you can catch world-class performances at Eastman School of Music, discover your next favorite band at a local music venue, or check out the Rochester Fringe Festival, Jazz Festival, independent theaters, galleries, and museums. You can enjoy everything from classical and jazz to indie, hip-hop, musical theater, dance, comedy, and more. And the best part? As a college student, you’ll find plenty of free or affordable ways to experience it all.

4. Four real seasons, all beautiful. Yes, it snows. No, you don't need to dread it. Lake-effect snow means fresh powder, not slush, and Bristol Mountain (skiing/snowboarding) is 45 minutes away. Mental note: You’ll want a warm winter coat. But also we have climate-controlled tunnels to get to class in flip flops in any weather. Spring brings the famous Lilac Festival, one of the largest free festivals in the country. Summer/fall mean gorgeous foliage, hiking, and Naz Weekend — our reunion, homecoming, and family weekend celebration with food trucks, live music, athletic events, and more. The campus offers free use of bikes, skis, and snowshoes.

What students from out of town say

Four women in dresses, side by side, pose, smiling for the camera.

"My friends are my home away from home. ... I feel safe here."

— Trinidy Rice '26 (second from left), from Orlando, Florida

"What stands out ... is the teachers. I think this degree (sports, entertainment, and arts management) really prepares me to be the best version of myself."
— Alex Gent '25 of Silver Spring, Maryland; he was hired as head of video analysis for Loudoun United Football Club in Virginia.

Seven students lean against each other in a clump on a campus lawn, smiling and laughing.

“I just love how small the school is and how you can have such personal relationships with your professors. It really helps make it feel like home, even when you’re from 1,000 miles away.”
— Mallory Barnes ’27, (center, in front) shares a video about coming from Atlanta

"Will I fit in if I'm not from New York?"

Most Nazareth students are from New York state. So you’ll have plenty of new friends to show you around. Naz is a welcoming place.

Small classes mean professors know your name. Student organizations, athletics, performing arts, service opportunities, and campus traditions make it easy to get involved. Residence halls become communities where friendships form naturally, and support is always close by.

You'll find Nazareth is a place that's invested in helping you belong from day one.

Your college experience

A campus that feels like an escape, in the best way. Enjoy the fountain, gardens, and trees on our 150 acres, where residence halls are a short walk from academic buildings. And downtown Rochester, the Erie Canal trail, and Lake Ontario are just minutes away.

Experiential learning built into your degree. Nazareth students complete an average of five career experiences — internships, clinical placements, research, study abroad — before graduation. We help you start early with the support of a Naz SPARK grant.

NCAA Division III athletics and 50+ clubs. Naz has 25 intercollegiate teams, professionally coached rowing, dance, and rugby squads, and enough clubs and music ensembles that "there's nothing to do here" won't be something you say.

A campus community. Most first-year and second-year students live on campus, and it shows: over 1,300 student activities and events happen every year.

Feeling like home

“Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The friendships and the community here make the transition so much easier and it really does end up feeling like home.” — Mallory Barnes from Atlanta speaks about adjusting to a new place. Her new experiences included snow tubing, enjoying the Erie Canal, and visiting Canada.