Syracuse vs. Union College

Deciding between Syracuse University and Union 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
Union College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Union College 9:1.

Syracuse vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Union 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 Union College than Syracuse ($42,137 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 11.4% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,010 vs. $19,188).
  • Union College is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $3,511 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Union College than at Syracuse University (about $3,511 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Syracuse University (96% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($42,534 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Union College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Union College (1400) is 40 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Union College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Union College (43.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Syracuse vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Union 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).

  • Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Union College and Syracuse graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Union College and Syracuse graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.