Syracuse University

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Quick Stats
Syracuse, NY 13244

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Phone: (315) 443-1870
2011-2012 Tuition
$37,667
tuition and fees
Students
14,201
enrolled
44%
male /
56%
female
Admissions
Jan. 1
application deadline
59.8%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#62 National Universities

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Summary

Syracuse University is a private institution that was founded in 1870. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,201, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Syracuse University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 62. Its tuition and fees are $37,667 (2011-12).

Few schools are associated with a color as strongly as Syracuse University is. A brilliant shade of orange is tied into campus life, manifesting itself in student media outlets such as The Daily Orange, the student-run newspaper, and CitrusTV, the television channel. The school’s sports teams are known simply as The Orange, and are cheered on in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference by school mascot Otto the Orange. The football team plays in Carrier Dome, famed as the only domed stadium in the Northeast. The school’s campus sits on University Hill, above the sprawling city of Syracuse in central New York state. With about 100 inches of snowfall each year, the bitter cold winters at Syracuse University give students plenty of opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding on nearby mountains. On campus, there are more than 300 student clubs and organizations. About 20 percent of Syracuse students are involved in Greek life, though only juniors and seniors may live in Greek housing. All freshmen and sophomore students must live in on-campus housing. The free Connective Corridor bus shuttles transport students between campus and downtown Syracuse, where annual celebrations include a 12-day Winterfest and a Jazz Fest.

Undergraduates and graduate students alike can take classes at the Syracuse University campus in Florence, Italy. Freshmen enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences can even spend their first semester studying abroad through the Discover Florence program. Syracuse University graduate students may take courses at Cornell University and the University of Rochester through the schools’ Scholar Exchange Program. Notable alumni include Vice President Joe Biden, actor Jerry Stiller, football player Donovan McNabb, and former Miss America Vanessa Williams.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is an independent institution with an international reputation. Syracuse University is guided by its vision of Scholarship In Action and offers the best of two learning environments. As a major research university, it is large enough to offer a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities, and yet its nine undergraduate colleges provide smaller, more intimate settings in which students have opportunities to build lasting relationships with mentoring faculty members. Scholarship In Action stresses the importance of multidisciplinary and interactive programs, where faculty and students learn, discover, and create through engagement with practitioners on campus, in the broader community, and the world. This is education for the world in the world.

In virtually every aspect of student life at Syracuse, choices abound. The many options of undergraduate majors and minors, dual enrollment programs, the range of courses available, opportunities to study abroad, internships, the scope of residential living options, and extracurricular activities make Syracuse University attractive to those who value a diverse educational experience.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1870
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $688,791,000

Applying

When applying to Syracuse University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 1. The application fee at Syracuse University is $70. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 59.8 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 60%
Application deadline January 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by January 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Syracuse University is 16:1, and the school has 61.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Syracuse University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Visual and Performing Arts; and Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 90.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 16:1
4-year graduation rate 72% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 17%
Social Sciences 13%
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 12%
Visual and Performing Arts 12%
Engineering 7%

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Student Life

Syracuse University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,201, with a gender distribution of 43.6 percent male students and 56.4 percent female students. 75.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 25.0 percent of students live off campus. Syracuse University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Syracuse University.

Total enrollment 20,407
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

Syracuse University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Syracuse University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Syracuse University, 23 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Syracuse University.

Students who have cars on campus 23% - Low
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

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Paying for School

At Syracuse University, 59.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $22,250.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $37,667 (2011-12)
Room and board $13,254 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

Syracuse is a big school and although the campus may seem overwhelming at first, it gets smaller as you go on. The city of Syracuse is not a thriving metropolis but it has some interesting places to be (ex. Armory Square). Most of the schools in Syracuse, particularly Newhouse and Maxwell, have really great reputations, and most people associate Syracuse with D1 sports teams. There's always something going on on-campus and off-campus but you have to be proactive about it. The faculty I've come in contact have been great but there are some professors who could stand to learn more about working with students and organizing a class. The most recent controversy on campus with the Hill TV scandal (I'm sure you can google it). There is major orange pride on campus and you will ac***ulate a lot of orange for your wardrobe...and learn to love the color in the end. I've met some great people at SU and I met my fiance here so I'm kind of in love with my campus

JC Senior

Syracuse is a very large, private, expensive, and amazing university! In my first year, I have experienced so much more than I probably ever would in high school and I am very grateful for the things I have learned along the way! The city of Syracuse is actually very different from the campus we live on. It is not the wealthiest of cities, nor the most well known; it is almost like two different worlds when being on campus versus "downtown". It is very nice, however, to step off campus and into the colorful avenues of the city, including: museums, restaurants (sushi is very popular), and nightlife.

Joe Sophomore

If you're coming for Newhouse, then you're in luck ... sorta. The school is very technologically advanced and will give you a decent education - the alumni contacts are great. However, the name recognition (in my experience), just isn't that great (especially on the West coast). I've found SU to be just the right size school - I'm always running into people I know going to class, but it's not so small that I feel like everywhere I go I'm going to know everyone. If you're looking for a school with a college town - look elsewhere. SU's marshal street has enough fast food and bars to get by, but it's far off from the typical college town that you think of. The administration leaves something to be desired. It's my opinion that they're working toward the general right direction for the school, but that their tactics need to be changed. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that it is the school responsibility to support the city of Syracuse - economically. It's hard to see so much of what is a hefty tuition go towards useless spending. If you're looking for a sports school. This is a good one. Yes, football sucks right now, and our Men's BB team is on it's worse streak in 30+ years. But it'll turn around in a few years. Besides mLAX is doing awesome and you get the Carrier Dome!

Joey Junior

More student reviews

* Overview details based on 2010 data

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