Syracuse vs. Villanova

Deciding between Syracuse University and Villanova 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
Villanova University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 10,041 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Syracuse vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Villanova? 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 Villanova University than Syracuse ($37,201 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 7.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,694 vs. $19,188).
  • Villanova University is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $2,248 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Villanova than at Syracuse University (about $2,248 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Villanova University (76% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($47,609 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse or Villanova? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Villanova and Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 90 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Syracuse University 29/32; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Villanova students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Syracuse vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse and Villanova? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $19,200 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Villanova University graduates have a $503 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($26,497 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Villanova graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($273 vs. $279).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.