Rutgers vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Syracuse University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Rutgers vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Syracuse ($20,522 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 18.1% lower than at Syracuse University ($15,714 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 265.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $47,599 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75% higher at Syracuse than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $28,087 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (76% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 117.5% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($36,417 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 50 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Syracuse (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Rutgers vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $300 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.