Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York · Private Nonprofit · 45.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Syracuse University scores 76 (Strong Value). The overall score masks enormous dispersion across programs: STEM and business programs achieve B+ and B grades, while arts, communications, and humanities programs cluster in D and F territory. Computer and Information Sciences (63 graduates, $82,378 year-one, $120,773 year-four, B+) and Accounting (72 graduates, $75,294 year-one, $112,682 year-four, B) represent the school's strongest financial outcomes. Drama/Theatre (61 graduates, $20,988 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.286, F), Film/Video (60 graduates, $26,331 year-one, F), and Anthropology (17 graduates, $16,844 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.38, F) represent outcomes where graduates are earning less than their annual debt service in the first year after graduation. The 6.7-year payback period and $48,700 average 6-year earnings reflect the blended institution - strong in STEM and business, poor in arts. The 85.4% repayment rate is solid. Families should evaluate Syracuse by intended major, not by institutional average. The gap between the school's best and worst financial outcomes is wide and consequential.
Syracuse University scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Syracuse University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,528/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,528/yr |
| Average net price | $38,793/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $155,172 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $79,164 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,477 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $65,528/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,793/year, or roughly $155,172 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,817/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $55,401/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,700) and comes to 0.53, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,817 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,845 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,132 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,780 |
| $110,001+ | $55,401 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $15,817 net price per year - roughly $63,268 over four years. For a student entering a strong program (CS, Accounting, Finance), this is a sound investment: the 6.7-year payback and $48,700 average earnings institution-wide are favorable. For a student entering arts, media, or humanities, even this reduced cost produces poor financial outcomes given those programs' D and F ROI grades. Aid generosity at the lowest bracket makes Syracuse financially accessible, but program choice remains critical.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $21,132 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $28,780. These figures are competitive for a private research university. Middle-income families considering Syracuse for engineering, business, or CS will find the investment justified. Families considering arts or humanities programs at these price points are financing a program where year-one earnings often fall below $35,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $55,401 per year - approximately $221,604 over four years. This is a significant investment that requires honest program-level evaluation. A STEM or business graduate earning $75,000-85,000 in year one can service this investment over time. A Drama or English graduate earning $20,000-$26,000 in year one cannot. High-income families should make program-specific decisions, not institution-level decisions.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Syracuse University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $65,694 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $68,219 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $90,535 | C+ |
| Economics | $83,649 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $120,274 | B |
| Information Science | $104,842 | B |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $76,367 | C+ |
| International Relations | $75,239 | C |
| Marketing | $91,235 | C+ |
| Journalism | $70,404 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (63 graduates) earns $82,378 year-one and $120,773 year-four with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.328). Median debt of $27,000 is modest relative to the earnings trajectory. CS graduates from Syracuse enter the New York City tech corridor, financial services, and consulting sectors. The B+ grade reflects strong returns despite the high institutional tuition - this is among Syracuse's best financial outcomes by program.
Accounting
Accounting (72 graduates) earns $75,294 year-one and $112,682 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.359). Median debt of $27,000. The four-year trajectory to $112,682 reflects strong CPA-track career progression. The B grade is appropriate - good financial outcome at a high price point.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (168 graduates) earns $72,819 year-one and $120,274 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.371). Median debt of $27,000. The steep earnings progression - $72,819 to $120,274 - reflects finance track careers in investment banking, asset management, and corporate finance in the New York City labor market.
Journalism
Journalism (139 graduates) earns $40,757 year-one and $70,404 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.662). Median debt of $27,000. At a C grade, graduates are carrying debt at roughly two-thirds of year-one salary. Students pursuing journalism at Syracuse should be aware that brand value in this field does not fully compensate for the earnings gap at this price point.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre (61 graduates) earns $20,988 year-one and $44,045 year-four with an F ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 1.286). Median debt of $27,000. At $20,988 year-one earnings, graduates are earning less than their annual debt service on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Students choosing this program at $65,528 tuition should have clear non-financial reasons and a plan for managing post-graduation debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Syracuse University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 630-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-720 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-32 |
| Enrollment | 15,477 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,189 |
A 45.9% admission rate combined with an 83.6% completion rate signals that admitted students match the academic environment well. Net price ranges dramatically by income: $15,817 (under $30,000) to $55,401 (over $110,000). High-income families at $55,401 per year are paying approximately $221,604 over four years - a figure that is defensible for high-ROI programs but questionable for arts and humanities.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University (this school) | 76 | $38,793 | $79,164 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Texas Christian University | 71 | $36,660 | $68,424 |
| National University | 64 | $22,878 | $67,548 |
| Baylor University | 63 | $41,104 | $65,793 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Syracuse University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Syracuse admits 45.9% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 630-720 Math and 640-720 Reading (ACT 29-32). At 15,477 enrolled students, it is a mid-to-large private research university with nationally recognized programs in communications (Newhouse), architecture (SU SOA), and engineering (ECS). The Pell rate of 17.1% reflects a predominantly non-need-based enrollment. Students considering Syracuse should carefully evaluate whether their intended program aligns with the school's strong financial outcomes in STEM and business, or its weaker outcomes in arts, media, and humanities.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Syracuse University pays off. You'd pay about $38,793 a year after aid ($155,172 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $79,164 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 83.6% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Syracuse University: Common Questions
Is Syracuse University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Syracuse University pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $38,793 a year after aid ($155,172 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $79,164 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.7 years to earn back.
How much does Syracuse University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $38,793 a year, or roughly $155,172 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Syracuse University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $79,164 ten years after enrolling, roughly $37,364 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Syracuse University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.7 years for Syracuse University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Syracuse University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $48,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Syracuse University?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.