Dartmouth vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Dartmouth 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.

Dartmouth College
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dartmouth Hanover, NH
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Dartmouth Remote Town
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dartmouth 6,938
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Dartmouth Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dartmouth #12
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dartmouth -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Dartmouth Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dartmouth
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dartmouth $68,268
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Dartmouth $19,999
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Dartmouth $20,322
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth $67,471
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dartmouth 47%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dartmouth 31,656
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Dartmouth 1,710
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dartmouth 5.4%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Dartmouth 69.1%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dartmouth 1540
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dartmouth 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dartmouth 3.9
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dartmouth A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dartmouth Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dartmouth Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dartmouth 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Dartmouth 1500/1570
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dartmouth Required
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dartmouth 7:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dartmouth
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dartmouth 95%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dartmouth $104,000
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dartmouth 87%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dartmouth $13,461
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dartmouth $139
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dartmouth 51%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dartmouth High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Dartmouth No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Dartmouth 49%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Dartmouth 15%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Dartmouth 7%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dartmouth 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Dartmouth 8%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dartmouth 5%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dartmouth 2%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dartmouth 81%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Dartmouth based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Dartmouth vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth College than Syracuse ($20,322 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 4.1% lower than at Dartmouth College ($19,188 vs. $19,999).
  • Dartmouth College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $2,740 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Dartmouth than at Syracuse University (about $2,740 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Dartmouth College (76% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 85.3% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($67,471 vs. $36,417).

Dartmouth vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 180 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Dartmouth 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: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Dartmouth vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth 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).

  • Dartmouth College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $38,100 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $13,539 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($13,461 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $140 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($139 vs. $279).
  • More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.