Syracuse vs. Purdue

Should I go to Syracuse University or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Syracuse or Purdue 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.

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Syracuse University vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
Syracuse University Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Syracuse University Purdue University Main Campus
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Overview

Syracuse Purdue
Location Syracuse, NY West Lafayette, IN
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 22,948 52,905
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #160 #103
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website syr.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Syracuse Purdue
Tuition (In State) $61,310 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $61,310 $28,520
Room & Board $18,444 $11,650
Avg Net Price $51,520 $12,421
Avg Grant Aid $29,110 $11,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 39%

Admission

Syracuse Purdue
Applied 42,089 73,083
Admitted 17,545 36,763
Acceptance Rate 41.7% 50.3%
Enrolled % 20.9% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/32 27/34
SAT Range 1260/1430 1190/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Syracuse Purdue
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Syracuse Purdue
Graduation Rate 80% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,900 $61,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $222

Diversity

Syracuse Purdue
% Men 14% 15%
% Women 17% 10%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 65%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 12% 17%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Syracuse Purdue
% In-State 32% 46%
% Out-of-State 57% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (52,905 students vs. 22,948 students)

Syracuse vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Purdue?

  • Syracuse University is 530.9% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($61,310.00 vs. $9,718.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115% higher at Syracuse than Purdue University Main Campus ($61,310.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Syracuse ($12,421 vs. $51,520)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 58.3% lower than costs at Syracuse University ($11,650 vs. $18,444)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Syracuse University than Purdue University Main Campus (82% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 161.6% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($29,110 vs. $11,126)

Syracuse vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 36 points higher than at Syracuse (1195)
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Syracuse (27)
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Purdue (3.67)
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (50.3%) than Syracuse (41.7%)

Syracuse vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Syracuse or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Syracuse.

  • The graduation rate at Syracuse is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (80% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Purdue graduates after ten years. ($65,900 vs. $61,200)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Syracuse graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Syracuse graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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