Holy Cross vs. Syracuse

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross 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.

College of the Holy Cross
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, 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 Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Holy Cross vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross 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 College of the Holy Cross than Syracuse ($36,014 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 1.9% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,820 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Holy Cross (about $1,028 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Syracuse than at College of the Holy Cross (about $1,028 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at College of the Holy Cross (76% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 21.7% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($44,334 vs. $36,417).

Holy Cross vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 30 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Holy Cross vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross 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).

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Syracuse University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Syracuse graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($279 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.