Hunter vs. Syracuse

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College 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.

CUNY Hunter College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Hunter vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than Syracuse ($4,431 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 38.3% lower than at Syracuse University ($11,832 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 787.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $58,146 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 327.4% higher at Syracuse than at CUNY Hunter College (about $50,196 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Syracuse University (87% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 273.3% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($36,417 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 100 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSyracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hunter students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Hunter vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,452 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($11,548 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($119 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 56%)

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.