Harvard vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Harvard vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Syracuse ($17,525 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 9.4% lower than at Harvard University ($19,188 vs. $21,190).
  • Syracuse University is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,852 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Syracuse than at Harvard University (about $3,852 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Harvard University (76% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 86.8% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($68,015 vs. $36,417).

Harvard vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Harvard vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $70,800 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

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.