Syracuse University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Syracuse, New York · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- Early Action
- 46,645
- Applicants
- 22,756
- Admitted49%
- 3,969
- Enrolled
- 17%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective49% admittedRanked #72 in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #78 (tie), Business Programs #58 (tie), Computer Science #75 (tie), Economics #57 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Syracuse University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Syracuse University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Syracuse University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Syracuse University is a private nonprofit university in Syracuse, New York that admits about 49% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $38,793 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 81% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Syracuse University is a private institution located in Syracuse, New York with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Syracuse University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 49%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1350 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,793 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Syracuse University?
72% of enrolled students at Syracuse University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.71, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Syracuse University weight in admissions?
Syracuse University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
7- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
Important
6- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
3- Interview
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
2- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Syracuse University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1300 |
| 50th percentile | 1350 |
| 75th percentile | 1410 |
| % submitting SAT | 23% |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 8% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional extended for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 entry; merit scholarships open to all. Some programs have their own requirements (e.g. portfolios).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Syracuse University's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 36.1% |
| Top 25% of class | 68.6% |
| Top 50% of class | 91.8% |
| % submitting class rank | 19.7% |
How much does Syracuse University actually cost?
Published tuition is $65,528 for in-state students and $65,528 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,188 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,793 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $69,180 |
| Room and board | $20,580 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $38,793 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 96% |
| Average need-based grant | $48,257 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,233 first-year students received one | $26,259 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 47% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $39,532 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $85 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Syracuse University
| Regular deadline | 1/5 |
| Notification date | Mid-March |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 5 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 56% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Syracuse University?
These predict outcomes at Syracuse University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Syracuse University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Syracuse University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Economics. Across all programs, Syracuse University confers roughly 1,556 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $63,889 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 265 | $63,889 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 227 | $109,595 |
| Economics | 226 | $82,376 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 198 | $83,644 |
| Information Science/Studies | 188 | $101,251 |
| Political Science and Government | 165 | $67,317 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 147 | $69,954 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 140 | $64,144 |
Is Syracuse University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Syracuse University disclosed 84 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 9 violent offenses and 15 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Syracuse University?
About 51% of undergraduates at Syracuse University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 25% of men join a fraternity and 42% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
Next steps for Syracuse University
Common questions parents ask about Syracuse University
What GPA do I need for Syracuse University?
72% of enrolled students at Syracuse University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.71, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Syracuse University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32.
How much does Syracuse University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Syracuse University after grants and scholarships is $38,793 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,528. Budget against the net figure.
Is Syracuse University realistic for my child?
Syracuse University admits 49% of applicants, so 630–720 SAT Math is target range and below 630 is a reach. Then check the $38,793 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Syracuse University?
Syracuse University accepts about 49% of applicants out of roughly 46,645 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Syracuse University test-optional?
Yes. Syracuse University is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Syracuse University?
About 81% of students at Syracuse University graduate within six years, and 69% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Syracuse University?
Syracuse University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 56%, compared with its overall rate of 49%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Syracuse University look for in applicants?
Syracuse University rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Syracuse University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Syracuse University is a private nonprofit institution located in Syracuse, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Syracuse University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Syracuse University by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Economics. The school awards about 1,556 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Syracuse University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Syracuse University reported 84 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Syracuse University?
At Syracuse University, 51% of undergraduates live on campus, 25% of men are in fraternities, 42% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Syracuse University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers