Houghton University vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Houghton 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.

Houghton University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Houghton University Houghton, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Houghton University Remote Rural
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Houghton University 1,200
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Houghton University Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Houghton University #432
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Houghton University Wesleyan
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Houghton University Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Houghton University
  • Syracuse
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Houghton University $18,430
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Houghton University $18,430
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Houghton University $11,360
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Houghton University $21,274
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Houghton University $9,902
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Houghton University 100%
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Houghton University 1,041
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Houghton University 923
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Houghton University 88.7%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Houghton University 23.2%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Houghton University 1270
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Houghton University 28
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Houghton University 3.25
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Houghton University B+
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Houghton University Difficult
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Houghton University
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Houghton University 26/31
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Houghton University 1170/1375
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Houghton University Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Houghton University
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Houghton University 12:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Houghton University
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Houghton University 68%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Houghton University $44,300
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Houghton University 77%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Houghton University $25,500
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Houghton University $263
  • Syracuse $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Houghton University 41%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Houghton University 59%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Houghton University Low
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Houghton University No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Houghton University 78%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Houghton University 2%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Houghton University 3%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Houghton University 2%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Houghton University 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Houghton University 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Houghton University 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Houghton University 11%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Houghton University 1%
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Houghton University 59%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Houghton University 33%
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Houghton University in Houghton, 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 Houghton University based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 1,200 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houghton University is located in Houghton, NY (Remote Rural setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Houghton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houghton University 12:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Houghton University vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Houghton University 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 Houghton University than Syracuse ($21,274 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houghton University are 40.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($11,360 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 255.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Houghton University (about $47,098 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $18,430.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 255.6% higher at Syracuse than at Houghton University (about $47,098 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $18,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houghton University than at Syracuse University (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 267.8% larger than aid received by Houghton University students ($36,417 vs. $9,902).

Houghton University vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Houghton University 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 Houghton University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 90 points higher than at Houghton University (1270).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Houghton University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houghton University 1170/1375; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houghton University 26/31; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Houghton University - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Houghton University (3.25).
  • Houghton University has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.2% at Houghton University vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Houghton University vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Houghton University 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 Houghton University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $21,600 more per year than Houghton University graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Houghton University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($25,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Houghton University graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($263 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Houghton University 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.