Colby College vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Colby 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.

Colby College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colby College Waterville, ME
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Colby College Remote Town
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colby College 2,412
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Colby College Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colby College #39
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colby College -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Colby College Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colby College
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Colby College $17,890
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Colby College $16,219
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colby College $69,201
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colby College 45%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colby College 19,187
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Colby College 1,360
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colby College 7.1%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Colby College 46.2%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colby College 1510
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colby College 33
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colby College 3.86
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colby College A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colby College Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colby College Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colby College 32/34
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Colby College 1460/1550
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colby College Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colby College Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colby College 9:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colby College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colby College 91%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colby College $73,400
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colby College 88%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colby College $19,345
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colby College $200
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colby College 49%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Colby College 51%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colby College Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Colby College No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Colby College 62%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Colby College 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Colby College 3%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colby College 6%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Colby College 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colby College 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colby College 5%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Colby College 11%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colby College 7%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colby College 8%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colby College 76%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Colby College vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College 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 Colby College than Syracuse ($16,219 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 6.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,890 vs. $19,188).
  • Colby College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $4,072 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Colby College than at Syracuse University (about $4,072 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Colby College (76% vs. 45%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 90% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($69,201 vs. $36,417).

Colby College vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College 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 Colby College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colby College (1510) is 150 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Colby College 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: Colby College 1460/1550; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colby College 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 Colby College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Colby College vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby College 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).

  • Colby College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Colby College earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,400 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby College graduates have a $7,655 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($19,345 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colby College graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.