Syracuse vs. Brown

Deciding between Syracuse University and Brown 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.

Syracuse University
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Brown University 6:1.

Syracuse vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Brown? 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 Brown University than Syracuse ($26,256 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 9.1% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,444 vs. $19,188).
  • Brown University is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $5,884 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Brown than at Syracuse University (about $5,884 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Brown University (76% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 68.6% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($61,392 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse or Brown? 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 Brown and Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Brown 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: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Syracuse vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $21,700 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.