Syracuse vs. Drexel

Deciding between Syracuse University and Drexel 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
Drexel University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Drexel University 9:1.

Syracuse vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Drexel? 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 Drexel University than Syracuse ($42,801 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 5.7% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,096 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $3,116 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Syracuse than at Drexel University (about $3,116 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Syracuse University (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 3.9% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($36,417 vs. $35,051).

Syracuse vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 20 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

Syracuse vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Drexel? 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drexel University graduates have a $757 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,243 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Drexel graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel 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.