Fordham vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fordham University in Bronx, 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 Fordham based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fordham vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Fordham University than Syracuse ($48,190 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 20.3% lower than at Fordham University ($19,188 vs. $24,090).
  • Syracuse University is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $613 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Syracuse than at Fordham University (about $613 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Syracuse University (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($36,417 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fordham University (1400) is 40 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Fordham vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Fordham graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)

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.