RIT vs. Syracuse

Should I go to Rochester Institute of Technology or Syracuse University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RIT or Syracuse is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

RPI Penn State Binghamton University UB Clarkson Fordham UVM Drexel Stevens BU Skidmore College IIT
Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Syracuse University comparison
Rochester Institute of Technology Syracuse University College 3 College 4
Rochester Institute of Technology Syracuse University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

RIT Syracuse
Location Rochester, NY Syracuse, NY
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 16,615 22,698
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #172 #165
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rit.edu syr.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RIT Syracuse
Tuition (In State) $53,720 $58,440
Tuition (Out of State) $53,720 $58,440
Room & Board $14,978 $17,170
Avg Net Price $39,600 $43,651
Avg Grant Aid $29,122 $34,737
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 77%

Admission

RIT Syracuse
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,976 41,489
Admitted 16,105 21,471
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 51.8%
Enrolled % 19.9% 19.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 28/32
SAT Range 1270/1450 1260/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

RIT Syracuse
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

RIT Syracuse
Graduation Rate 64% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,900 $65,900
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $289 $279

Diversity

RIT Syracuse
% Men 65% 46%
% Women 35% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 55%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 12%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

RIT Syracuse
% In-State 47% 28%
% Out-of-State 49% 61%

Campus

RIT Syracuse
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Syracuse University is larger than than RIT based on total student enrollment (22,698 students vs. 16,615 students)

RIT vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT or Syracuse?

  • Syracuse University is 8.8% more expensive to attend than RIT for in-state tuition ($58,440.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at Syracuse than Rochester Institute of Technology ($58,440.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rochester Institute of Technology than Syracuse ($39,600 vs. $43,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 14.6% lower than costs at Syracuse University ($14,978 vs. $17,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than Syracuse University (97% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 19.3% larger than aid received Rochester Institute of Technology ($34,737 vs. $29,122)

RIT vs. Syracuse Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT or Syracuse? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Syracuse or RIT .

  • The average SAT score at Rochester Institute of Technology (1251) is 56 points higher than at Syracuse (1195)
  • Incoming RIT students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Syracuse (27)
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Syracuse (3.69)
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (67.2%) than Syracuse (51.8%)

RIT vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RIT or Syracuse? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Syracuse and RIT .

  • The graduation rate at Syracuse is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology (80% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn on average $1,000 more per year than RIT graduates after ten years. ($65,900 vs. $64,900)
  • Syracuse University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,000)
  • Syracuse graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($279 vs. $289)
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/