Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Syracuse admits about 1 in 2 applicants (49%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 84% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (47% and 45%).
$85 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
New York applicants were admitted at 46%, applicants from other states at 52%, and international applicants at 33%.
All applicants in the same class: 49%
Of those admitted, 22% from New York enrolled, against 16% from other states and 13% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
17% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 14,242 offered a place, 6,530 accepted, 2,039 admitted (31% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 56% admitted
1,478 of 2,654 early applicants; 49% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Jan 1
Second round: apply by Jan 5; decisions by Feb 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Feb 1
Where you stand
How Syracuse reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both important. 50% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 23% of first-years sent an SAT and 8% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 20% whose high school reported a rank, 36% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and science. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Important | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies required; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
50% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 49% of first-year applicants
1,608 applied · 805 admitted · 320 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 12 d completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by July 1, decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: apply by December 15, decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 5 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: January 5. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are released: Mid-March.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
- $450 housing deposit, due May 1, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science | 4 |
| Foreign language | 3 |
| Social studies | 4 |
| History | 4 |
| Total | 23* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.71
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.029%
- 3.75–3.9920%
- 3.50–3.7422%
- 3.25–3.4915%
- 3.00–3.2410%
- below 3.03%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.25–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 29.5% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 20.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 21.8% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 15.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 10.4% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 2.4% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.4% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
36% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 69% in the top quarter, of the 20% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Syracuse University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1360 on the SAT, 190 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
33% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
67% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
43% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
32% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
41% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 23% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 8% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
929 studentssubmitted ACT
327 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Syracuse University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Syracuse University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Syracuse University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Syracuse University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)