UMass vs. Syracuse

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Syracuse 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Syracuse University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

UMass vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Syracuse? 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 Massachusetts Amherst than Syracuse ($22,948 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 12.9% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,710 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 268.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $47,756 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62% higher at Syracuse than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $25,079 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Syracuse University (81% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 177.8% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($36,417 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 50 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming UMass 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: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

UMass vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Syracuse? 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($248 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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.