NYU vs. Syracuse

Deciding between New York 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.

New York University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New York University 8:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

NYU vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 New York University than Syracuse ($30,325 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 18.5% lower than at New York University ($19,188 vs. $23,530).
  • Syracuse University is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $2,732 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Syracuse than at New York University (about $2,732 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at New York University (76% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 48% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($53,901 vs. $36,417).

NYU vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 160 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

NYU vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.