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Syracuse University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 67/100

Syracuse University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Syracuse, New York

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Syracuse, New York. It enrolls 15,477 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: syracuse.edu

Acceptance: 45.9%
Graduation: 77.9%
Net Price: $38,793
Median Earnings (10yr): $79,164
Enrollment: 15,477
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

67/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 90

Value 22

Affordability 9

Selectivity 87

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 45.9%, Syracuse University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

45.9%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1270 – 1440

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

29 – 32

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Syracuse University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 2.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Syracuse University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,793 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$38,793

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

17%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

32%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $65,528
Room & Board (on-campus): $19,188
Room & Board (off-campus): $19,188
Books & Supplies: $1,753
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,024
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,024
Total Cost of Attendance: $84,517

Application fee: $85 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$15,817
$30,001 – $48,000

$15,845
$48,001 – $75,000

$21,132
$75,001 – $110,000

$28,780
Over $110,000

$55,401

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$6,500

10% percentile

$15,500

25% percentile

$26,000

Median percentile

$32,000

75% percentile

$37,998

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $24,500 ↓ $1,500

No Pell $23,250 ↓ $2,750

Dependent students $24,000 ↓ $2,000

Independent students $19,250 ↓ $6,750

Female students $23,667 ↓ $2,333

Male students $23,750 ↓ $2,250

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,250, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

78% of full-time students who enrolled at Syracuse University graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

78%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

91%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Syracuse University earn a median of $79,164 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$79,164

Earning > $25K

87%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$65,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$74,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$68,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$67,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$70,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,900, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 11.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Syracuse University is home to 15,477 students, a sprawling student community.

Total Enrolled

15,477

Part-Time

First-Generation

19%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 56.5% 8,746

Hispanic 12.5% 1,932

International 9.1% 1,415

Black 7.9% 1,224

Asian 7.3% 1,127

Other 5.1% 786

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Syracuse University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Syracuse, New York

Housing

Mostly residential 8,370 beds on campus

Adult Learners

3% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Syracuse University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 221 distinct programs across 29 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

13 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)

12 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)

9 Programs

Communication

Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)

8 Programs

Public Administration

Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

12 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)

20 Programs

Engineering

Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Aerospace Engineering $98K ($82K–$116K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Syracuse University is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$3.0B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$116,223

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,196 instructional faculty across 3 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	425	36%	$147,707
Associate Professors	396	33%	$107,221
Assistant Professors	375	31%	$90,049

Pros & Cons of Syracuse University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Syracuse University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Reasonable class sizes
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Syracuse University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Syracuse University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Syracuse University.

Is Syracuse University hard to get into?

Syracuse University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 45.9%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Syracuse University?

Syracuse University has an acceptance rate of 45.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Syracuse University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Syracuse University scored between 1270 and 1440 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Syracuse University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Syracuse University scored between 29 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Syracuse University cost?

The average net price after aid at Syracuse University is $38,793 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Syracuse University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $79,164 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,793 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Syracuse University known for?

Syracuse University is best known for its programs in Information Systems, Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Syracuse University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Syracuse University are $79,164, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Syracuse University accredited?

Yes. Syracuse University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Syracuse University?

Syracuse University enrolls 15,477 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Syracuse University?

Syracuse University graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Syracuse University a public or private college?

Syracuse University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Syracuse University located?

Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, New York.

What programs does Syracuse University offer?

Syracuse University offers 221 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Systems, Psychology, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Syracuse University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Syracuse University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.