Williams vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Williams 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.

Williams College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Williams 2,164
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Williams #14
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Williams -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Williams
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Williams $68,560
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Williams $17,260
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Williams $15,894
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Williams $68,966
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Williams 54%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Williams 15,411
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Williams 1,272
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Williams 43%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Williams 1530
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Williams 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Williams 3.94
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Williams A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Williams Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Williams Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Williams 34/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Williams Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Williams 6:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Williams 95%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Williams $73,600
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Williams 83%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Williams $14,582
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Williams $150
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Williams 47%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Williams 53%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Williams High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Williams No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Williams 54%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Williams 12%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Williams 8%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Williams 13%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Williams 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Williams 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Williams 6%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Williams 8%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Williams 0%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Williams 11%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Williams 77%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, 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 Williams based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Williams vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams 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 Williams College than Syracuse ($15,894 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 10% lower than at Syracuse University ($17,260 vs. $19,188).
  • Williams College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $3,032 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Williams than at Syracuse University (about $3,032 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Williams College (76% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 89.4% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($68,966 vs. $36,417).

Williams vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams 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 Williams.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 170 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Williams 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: Williams College 1490/1570; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Williams vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams 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).

  • Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $12,418 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($14,582 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($150 vs. $279).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.