Quad

Head-to-head

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Syracuse has 2.1× as many undergrads as American

    Undergrads
  2. 2

    American costs about $5.7K less per year on average than Syracuse ($51,726 vs. $57,389, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  3. 3

    Syracuse graduates 4 pts more of its students than American (83% vs. 79%)

    Graduation rate
  4. 4

    Syracuse admits 49% vs. 62% at American

    Acceptance rate
  5. 5

    Syracuse has 3 pts more first-gen students than American (19% vs. 16%)

    First-generation students
  6. 6

    Syracuse has 3 pts more Pell recipients than American (17% vs. 14%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Syracuse admits 49%, American 62%; Syracuse's yield is higher, at 17%.

Acceptance rate
American62%
Syracuse49%
Quad's selectivity
  • AmericanVery selective
  • SyracuseVery selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1200–1600
American
1280–1460
Syracuse
1300–1410
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • AmericanGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • SyracuseRigor and GPA very important50%

Who's on each campus

Syracuse has 2.1× as many undergrads as American and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
American7.3K
Syracuse15.5K
Pell Grant share
American14%
Syracuse17%

Majors and faculty

International Relations and Affairs leads at American, and Psychology at Syracuse; American has 10 students per faculty member to Syracuse's 15.

Students per faculty member
American10 to 1
Syracuse15 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • AmericanInternational Relations and Affairs18%
  • SyracusePsychology, General8%

What each costs

American costs about $5.7K less a year than Syracuse on average; Syracuse's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
American$51.7K
Syracuse$57.4K
Aid generosity
American32%
Syracuse33%

What each pays off

Syracuse's former students earn more, a median $79.2K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 70% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
American$77.4K
Syracuse$79.2K
Graduation rate
American79%
Syracuse83%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; Syracuse got more selective while American got less.

Applications, 10-year change
  • AmericanGrowing+14%
  • SyracuseGrowing+66%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why