Syracuse University
#9 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs- Graduation Rate
- 82% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $79,164 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $38,793 F
- 126% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 46% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs.
Every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,113,318.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 94% more than the national college median.
-
A 82% graduation rate — 44% above the national average.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.94% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $14.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.8%
- Top 29%
- Patents
- 159
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #177
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 609
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 24/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Syracuse University Matters
Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, NY ranked #177 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 15,477
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Communications, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Syracuse University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 46% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1270–1440. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $38,793 a year after grants and scholarships — 126% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $79,164 ten years after enrolling — 94% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 11% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.57 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 15,500 students, Syracuse University creates a vibrant community for those interested in fields like Communications, Business & Marketing, and Visual & Performing Arts. The acceptance rate of 46% means it's fairly selective, but there's a good chance for dedicated applicants to find their place here. The strong graduation rate of 82% speaks to the supportive environment designed to help students succeed, both academically and personally.
Looking at life after graduation, alumni earn an impressive average of $79,164 within ten years of completing their degrees. This level of earning potential highlights the value of the programs here, especially for those who dive into in-demand fields. While 17% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating some affordability challenges, the outcomes suggest that many graduates move up the economic ladder, benefiting from the skills and networks developed during their time at Syracuse.
When considering the financial aspect, the net price after aid sits at $38,793, which is manageable compared to the potential earnings. The median debt of $26,000 is reasonable for many students, especially when weighed against their post-graduation salaries. Those who thrive here tend to be driven, engaged in campus life, and ready to take advantage of the resources available, setting them up for future success in their careers.
Rankings
- #9 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs
- #12 Best Communications Colleges in New York
- #13 Best Online MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship
- #18 Best Engineering Colleges in New York
- #18 Best Online MBA Programs for Finance
- #22 Best MBA Programs for Supply Chain Management
- #23 Best Online MBA Programs for Social Mobility
- #23 Universities With the Highest Research Impact
Can I Get In?
How selective Syracuse University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Syracuse University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Syracuse, New York, Syracuse University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 46%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,375. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1375
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1270–1440
- ACT Range
- 29–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 68%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,189
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 19%
- Applicants
- 41,489
- Admitted
- 21,471
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Syracuse University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Syracuse University is $65,528, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,793. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,817 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $65,528
- Out-of-State
- $65,528
- Avg Net Price
- $38,793
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 32%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,817
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,845
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,132
- Family Income $110K+
- $55,401
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Syracuse University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Syracuse University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Syracuse University earn a median of $79,164, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $60,459
- 8 Years
- $70,598
- 10 Years
- $79,164
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 79%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,460)
- 71%
- 100% (2,460)
- 71%
- 100% (2,460)
- 71%
- 100% (2,460)
- 71%
How Syracuse Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Syracuse University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Syracuse University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $38,793/year ($155,172 total). Graduates earn $79,164 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,268,490 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,113,318 (14.6× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 82% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $155,172
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,268,490
- Net Return
- $2,113,318
- ROI Multiple
- 14.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $38,793
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Syracuse University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Syracuse University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.94%, among the highest in the country. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 51.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.94%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 51.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $162,630
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is Syracuse University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Syracuse University at #177 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 24/100, teaching at 32/100, and citation impact of 87/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #177
- Teaching
- 32.4
- Research
- 24.4
- Citations
- 87.1
- International
- 41.2
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Syracuse University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 159 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 24/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.77%
- Top 29% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 159
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 609
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 24/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 87/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 41/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.58%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-93,289,945
Top Programs
The fields Syracuse University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 13% $56,850 early-career
- Communications 13% $53,390 early-career
- Business & Marketing 12% $76,148 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $45,751 early-career
- Psychology 8% $37,422 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $88,529 early-career
- Engineering 6% $96,639 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $43,971 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Syracuse University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Syracuse University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Syracuse, New York, Syracuse University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 46%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,375. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Syracuse University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Syracuse University is $65,528, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,793. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,817 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Syracuse University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Syracuse University earn a median of $79,164, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Syracuse University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Syracuse University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.94%, among the highest in the country. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 51.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Syracuse University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Syracuse University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Syracuse University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Syracuse University at #177 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 24/100, teaching at 32/100, and citation impact of 87/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Syracuse University.
- George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Close peer85% grad $90,873 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · Close peer70% grad $76,571 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · Close peer83% grad $80,596 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Close peer79% grad $78,349 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Close peer81% grad $85,569 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of RochesterRochester, NY · Close peer85% grad $79,042 earn 40% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Syracuse University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Syracuse University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note