Syracuse vs. Lafayette College

Deciding between Syracuse University and Lafayette College? 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
Lafayette College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Lafayette College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Lafayette College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Lafayette College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Lafayette College 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Lafayette College High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Lafayette College 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Lafayette College 1350/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Lafayette College $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Lafayette College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Lafayette College No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Lafayette College 67%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Lafayette College 4%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Lafayette College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Lafayette College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Lafayette College 2%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Lafayette College 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Lafayette College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Lafayette College 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Lafayette College 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Syracuse vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College than Syracuse ($38,442 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 3.4% lower than at Lafayette College ($19,188 vs. $19,866).
  • Syracuse University is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lafayette College (about $130 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $65,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Syracuse than at Lafayette College (about $130 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $65,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Lafayette College (76% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 22.8% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($44,707 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 70 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Lafayette College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Syracuse vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Lafayette College? 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).

  • Lafayette College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Lafayette College 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.