BC vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, 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 BC based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

BC vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 Boston College than Syracuse ($32,519 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 1.4% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,916 vs. $19,188).
  • Boston College is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $5,174 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at BC than at Syracuse University (about $5,174 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Boston College (76% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 56.4% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($56,971 vs. $36,417).

BC vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 130 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming BC 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: Boston College 1440/1540; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

BC vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.