Acceptance Rate
46%
Avg. SAT
1440
75th percentile
“Snow-blanketed powerhouse where communications wizards sharpen skills amid rabid basketball fandom and Greek life energy.”
Syracuse, NY
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
You'll step into Syracuse University, born in 1870 when Methodists planted a flagship campus on a hilltop overlooking the salty streets of Syracuse, New York—a city named for its ancient Greek counterpart, evoking visions of classical ambition amid Rust Belt grit. Now sprawl across 661 acres, it draws 15,000 undergrads who thrive on big-school buzz: outgoing networkers, spirited athletes, and pre-professionals chasing media glory or business deals. The personality pulses orange—fiercely loyal, party-ready, and unapologetically loud—but tradeoffs hit hard: the sprawling size dilutes intimacy, and Syracuse's punishing winters (over 120 inches of snow yearly) test your resolve, while the surrounding midsize city offers cheap eats and proximity to Finger Lakes wineries yet lacks the polish of bigger metros.
Photo Gallery
+25
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Newhouse School of Public Communications, you'll dissect viral campaigns in hands-on studios rivaling ad agencies, or craft stories at the #1-ranked public relations program where grads snag spots at Edelman or Ogilvy faster than at most peers. Architecture majors sketch under starchitects in a program born from post-WWII innovation, while Whitman business kids crunch data in trading rooms mimicking Wall Street. Classrooms buzz with 15:1 faculty ratios that mean real mentorship, not lectureships, fostering a pragmatic vibe where professors like Joe Scupham push real-world projects over ivory-tower theory—but don't expect seminar-style soul-searching; the research scene shines for ambitious undergrads via REUs in engineering or Maxwell School policy labs, yet humanities feel overshadowed by vocational stars, and massive enrollment means popular intros pack 300 seats.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
15,957 undergrad • 6,632 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
51%
Black / African American
8%
Hispanic / Latino
10%
Asian
6%
Other / Multi-racial
25%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Syracuse, NY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week kicks off with club fairs boasting 400+ groups—from improv troupes to quidditch—then dives into Greek life (30% pledge) fueling themed mixers, before Friday's pilgrimage to JMA Dome for basketball hysteria where 35,000 fans chant under the roof. Weekends blend tailgates, Block S parties with bonfires, and late-night Shaw Hall pizza runs, all in 13 residence halls from cozy quads to suite-style perks; traditions like Otto the Orange's Homecoming "wedding" cement the familial roar. Yet the vibe skews rah-rah extrovert—introverts or chill seekers might feel steamrolled by the party pressure and seasonal cabin fever from Syracuse's gray skies, though off-campus dives like Varsity's bagels or Dinosaur Bar-B-Que offer escapes.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Atlantic Coast Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$17,000
$30K – $48K
$18,339
$48K – $75K
$21,415
$75K – $110K
$27,817
$110K+
$46,942
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
90%
4 Years Graduation Rate
73%
6 Years Graduation Rate
83%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$79,164
90% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Syracuse University and return in the fall. 73% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 83% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
73%
4-5 years
10%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
16%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$58,440
Acceptance
46%
Undergrads
15,957
4-Year Grad Rate
73%
Endowment
$1.1B
Syracuse, NY 13244
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