Syracuse vs. Pitt

Deciding between Syracuse University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? 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
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Syracuse vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than Syracuse ($25,223 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 29% lower than at Syracuse University ($13,620 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 198.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $43,602 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.2% higher at Syracuse than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $24,098 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (76% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 120.8% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($36,417 vs. $16,494).

Syracuse vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 10 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Pitt 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; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 13% at Pitt.

Syracuse vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,909 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pitt graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($278 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

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.