Syracuse vs. Vassar

Deciding between Syracuse University and Vassar 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
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Syracuse University 15:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Syracuse vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Vassar? 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 Vassar College than Syracuse ($29,981 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 4.9% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,240 vs. $19,188).
  • Vassar College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $5,502 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Vassar than at Syracuse University (about $5,502 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Vassar College (76% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 57.7% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($57,443 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 140 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Syracuse vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Vassar? 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).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $11,220 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($15,780 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($163 vs. $279).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.