Wellesley vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Wellesley College 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.

Wellesley College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than Syracuse ($22,174 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 8.7% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,188 vs. $21,024).
  • Wellesley College is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $1,648 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at Wellesley than at Syracuse University (about $1,648 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Wellesley College (76% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 76.1% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($64,116 vs. $36,417).

Wellesley vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 150 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Wellesley 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: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley 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 Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Wellesley vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $18,100 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($8,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $187 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($92 vs. $279).
  • More Wellesley 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.