Amherst vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Amherst College and Syracuse University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Amherst College
Syracuse University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Amherst Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Amherst No
  • Syracuse No
  • Meal Plan
  • Amherst Yes
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Amherst No
  • Syracuse Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Amherst No
  • Syracuse Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Syracuse University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Amherst vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Syracuse? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Syracuse ($19,049 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 4.2% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,390 vs. $19,188).
  • Amherst College is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $4,952 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Amherst than at Syracuse University (about $4,952 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Amherst College (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 88.3% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($68,591 vs. $36,417).

Amherst vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Syracuse? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Syracuse and Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 180 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Amherst vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Syracuse? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $14,025 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($12,975 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($134 vs. $279).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.