Syracuse vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Syracuse University and Lehigh 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
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Syracuse vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh University than Syracuse ($34,154 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 10.3% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,220 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $548 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Syracuse than at Lehigh University (about $548 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Lehigh University (76% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 28.3% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($46,731 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 80 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Lehigh 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; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Syracuse vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Lehigh? 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $23,300 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,744 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More Lehigh 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.