MIT vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, 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 MIT based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

MIT vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Syracuse ($20,996 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Syracuse University are 5.4% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($19,188 vs. $20,280).
  • Syracuse University is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $3,132 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Syracuse than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $3,132 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 69.5% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($61,734 vs. $36,417).

MIT vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 190 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

MIT vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $76,200 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $9,684 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($17,316 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($179 vs. $279).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.