Tufts vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Tufts University 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.

Tufts University
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tufts University in Medford, 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 Tufts based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Tufts vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts 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 Tufts University than Syracuse ($32,367 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 3.1% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,588 vs. $19,188).
  • Tufts University is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Syracuse (about $5,176 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at Tufts than at Syracuse University (about $5,176 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $65,528.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Tufts University (76% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 53.6% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($55,933 vs. $36,417).

Tufts vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts 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 Tufts.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 160 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming Tufts 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: Tufts University 1470/1560; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Tufts vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts 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).

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($18,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($186 vs. $279).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.