BU vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Boston University 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 University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 University than Syracuse ($24,420 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 0.9% lower than at Syracuse University ($19,020 vs. $19,188).
  • Boston University is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $2,574 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at BU than at Syracuse University (about $2,574 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Boston University (76% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 69.8% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($61,848 vs. $36,417).

BU vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 120 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

BU vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Syracuse University and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Syracuse University and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.