Staten Island vs. Syracuse

Deciding between College of Staten Island CUNY 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 Staten Island CUNY
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Staten Island Staten Island, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Staten Island Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Staten Island 11,033
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Staten Island Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Staten Island #622
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Staten Island -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Staten Island Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Staten Island $7,490
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Staten Island $15,440
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Staten Island $21,155
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Staten Island $6,525
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Staten Island $8,526
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Staten Island 80%
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Staten Island 14,002
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Staten Island 12,929
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Staten Island 92.3%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Staten Island 17%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Staten Island 1070
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Staten Island 3.0
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Staten Island B
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Staten Island Average
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Staten Island 890/1250
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Staten Island Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Staten Island
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Staten Island 17:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Staten Island
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (30%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Staten Island 48%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Staten Island $45,100
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Staten Island 49%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Staten Island $13,987
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Staten Island $144
  • Syracuse $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Staten Island 47%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Staten Island 53%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Staten Island High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Staten Island No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Staten Island 47%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Staten Island 12%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Staten Island 14%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Staten Island 23%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Staten Island 1%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Staten Island 3%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Staten Island 90%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Staten Island CUNY in Staten Island, 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 Staten Island based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 11,033 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Staten Island CUNY is located in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • College of Staten Island CUNY is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Staten Island CUNY 17:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Staten Island vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Staten Island 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 Staten Island CUNY than Syracuse ($6,525 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 9.3% lower than at College of Staten Island CUNY ($19,188 vs. $21,155).
  • Syracuse University is 774.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Staten Island (about $58,038 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $7,490.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 324.4% higher at Syracuse than at College of Staten Island CUNY (about $50,088 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $15,440.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Staten Island CUNY than at Syracuse University (80% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 327.1% larger than aid received by College of Staten Island CUNY students ($36,417 vs. $8,526).

Staten Island vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Staten Island 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 Staten Island.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 290 points higher than at Staten Island (1070).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Staten Island CUNY 890/1250; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSyracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Staten Island - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Staten Island (3.0).
  • Staten Island has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at Staten Island vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Staten Island vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Staten Island 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).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than College of Staten Island CUNY's (48%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $20,800 more per year than Staten Island graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $45,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Staten Island CUNY graduates have a $13,013 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($13,987 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Staten Island graduates have an estimated $135 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($144 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Staten Island students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 49%)

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.