Northeastern vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Northeastern vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern University than Syracuse ($34,207 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 2% lower than at Northeastern University ($19,188 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $634 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Northeastern than at Syracuse University (about $634 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Northeastern University (76% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 38.5% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($50,421 vs. $36,417).

Northeastern vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 130 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Northeastern vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Syracuse University graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Syracuse graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($279 vs. $288).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 79%)

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.