Syracuse University: the complete school report for parents

What does Syracuse University actually weigh in admissions?

Syracuse University rates 7 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendations, personal qualities, talent. It does not consider 2 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Syracuse University's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

72% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.71 on a 4 scale, reported for 99.65% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

What is the Syracuse University waitlist really like?

Syracuse University offered a place on its waiting list to 14,242 applicants and 6,530 accepted one. 2,039 were ultimately admitted. That is 31.2% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Syracuse University admitted 50.1% of 1,608 transfer applicants, against 48.8% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 55.7% of ED applicants were admitted against 48.8% overall, a gap of 7 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What will Syracuse University actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $38,793 a year at Syracuse University after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $69,180. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 96% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 1,233 merit awards averaging $26,259 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

47% of Syracuse University graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $39,532 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $276 a month in repayment. Syracuse University’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Syracuse University pay off?

Graduates earn a median $79,164 ten years after entering, and $60,459 at six years. 84% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 79% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$109,595 to $41,457, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Syracuse University:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

92% of first-years return for a second year. 69% graduate within four years and 81% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 75.9% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 80.2% of everyone else, a gap of 4.3 points.

How big are the classes?

60% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 4% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1, and 68% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Syracuse University like?

16,149 undergraduates, 65% of first-years from out of state. 97.5% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 51% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 25.02% of men join a fraternity and 42.39% of women a sorority. 19% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $75,289.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
• 72% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.71. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 2,039 of 6,530 who waited were admitted, about 31%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $109,595 five years out against $41,457 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Syracuse University

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