Howard vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Howard 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.

Howard University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Howard Washington, DC
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Howard Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Howard 14,890
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Howard Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Howard #310
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Howard -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Howard Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Howard
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Howard $17,322
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Howard $33,368
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Howard $21,262
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Howard 99%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Howard 34,211
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Howard 14,144
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Howard 41.3%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Howard 19.4%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Howard 1210
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Howard 25
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Howard 3.66
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Howard A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Howard Challenging
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Howard Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Howard 22/28
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Howard 1090/1320
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Howard Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Howard Feb 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Howard 13:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Howard
    • Business (20%)
    • Communication (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Howard 63%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Howard $51,800
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Howard 33%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Howard $27,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Howard $279
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Howard 30%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Howard 70%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Howard Very Low
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Howard Yes
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Howard 2%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Howard 1%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Howard 91%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Howard 0%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Howard 1%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Howard 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Howard 0%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Howard 5%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Howard 0%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Howard 2%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Howard 94%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Syracuse University is larger than Howard based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 14,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Howard vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard University than Syracuse ($33,368 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard University are 9.7% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,322 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 83% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard (about $29,718 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $35,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83% higher at Syracuse than at Howard University (about $29,718 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $35,810.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Syracuse University (99% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 71.3% larger than aid received by Howard University students ($36,417 vs. $21,262).

Howard vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 150 points higher than at Howard (1210).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Howard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Howard (3.66).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Howard (41.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Howard vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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 Howard University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Syracuse University and Howard graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Syracuse University and Howard graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 33%)

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.