Columbia vs. Syracuse

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or Syracuse University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or Syracuse is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Columbia University in the City of New York vs. Syracuse University comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York Syracuse University College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York Syracuse University
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Overview

Columbia Syracuse
Location New York, NY Syracuse, NY
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 34,782 22,698
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #165
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu syr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Syracuse
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $58,440
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $58,440
Room & Board $16,286 $17,170
Avg Net Price $22,058 $43,651
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $34,737
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 77%

Admission

Columbia Syracuse
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 41,489
Admitted 2,404 21,471
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 51.8%
Enrolled % 64.1% 19.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/35 28/32
SAT Range 1490/1580 1260/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia Syracuse
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Columbia Syracuse
Graduation Rate 93% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $65,900
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Columbia Syracuse
% Men 46% 46%
% Women 54% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 55%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 13% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 15% 12%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Columbia Syracuse
% In-State 19% 28%
% Out-of-State 64% 61%

Campus

Columbia Syracuse
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 22,698 students)

Columbia vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Syracuse?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 7.1% more expensive to attend than Syracuse for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $58,440.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.1% higher at Columbia than Syracuse University ($62,570.00 vs. $58,440.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Syracuse ($22,058 vs. $43,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 5.4% lower than costs at Syracuse University ($16,286 vs. $17,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Syracuse University than Columbia University in the City of New York (77% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 75.8% larger than aid received Syracuse University ($61,061 vs. $34,737)

Columbia vs. Syracuse Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Syracuse? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Syracuse or Columbia .

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 278 points higher than at Syracuse (1195)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Syracuse (27)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Syracuse (3.69)
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (51.8%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia or Syracuse? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Syracuse and Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Syracuse University (93% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $41,700 more per year than Syracuse graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $65,900)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Syracuse graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Syracuse graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/