Princeton vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Princeton 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.

Princeton University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Princeton #1
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Princeton -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Princeton
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Princeton 67%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Princeton 1550
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Princeton 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Princeton A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Princeton Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Princeton 96%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Princeton 83%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Princeton $77
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Princeton 52%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Princeton 48%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Princeton Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Princeton No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Princeton 45%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Princeton 22%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Princeton 8%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Princeton 9%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Princeton 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Princeton 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Princeton 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Princeton 11%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Princeton 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Princeton 14%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Princeton 74%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Princeton vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton 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 Princeton University than Syracuse ($15,313 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 5.2% lower than at Princeton University ($19,188 vs. $20,250).
  • Syracuse University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $2,840 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Syracuse than at Princeton University (about $2,840 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Princeton University (76% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 88.7% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($68,727 vs. $36,417).

Princeton vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton 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 Princeton.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Princeton 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: Princeton University 1510/1580; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Princeton vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $48,000 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $19,500 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($7,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $202 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($77 vs. $279).
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.