Cornell vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than Syracuse ($26,361 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 1.2% lower than at Cornell University ($19,188 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $3,786 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Cornell than at Syracuse University (about $3,786 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Cornell University (76% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 69.6% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($61,779 vs. $36,417).

Cornell vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 180 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Cornell vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $32,500 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell 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.