Colgate vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Colgate 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.

Colgate University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Colgate vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate University than Syracuse ($28,736 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 8.2% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,610 vs. $19,188).
  • Colgate University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $4,778 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Colgate than at Syracuse University (about $4,778 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Colgate University (76% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 60.2% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($58,334 vs. $36,417).

Colgate vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 130 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Colgate 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: Colgate University 1430/1540; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Colgate vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $10,875 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($16,125 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($166 vs. $279).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.