Syracuse vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Syracuse University and Carnegie Mellon 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
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Syracuse University is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Syracuse vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon University than Syracuse ($35,552 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 5.3% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,166 vs. $19,188).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $718 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Syracuse University (about $718 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Carnegie Mellon University (76% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($48,107 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 180 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon 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; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Syracuse vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $36,800 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.