Syracuse University vs University of Southern California (USC)

Syracuse University and the University of Southern California, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Syracuse, nestled in the heart of New York, boasts a lower acceptance rate, a more diverse student body, and a higher graduation rate. USC, situated in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, offers a wider range of popular majors, a larger student body, and a more urban campus. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics of each university, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, to determine which institution best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Syracuse University logo

Syracuse University

University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Overview

Location Syracuse, New York Los Angeles, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 90.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.2% 12.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1220 - 1400 1410 - 1540
ACT range 27 - 32 32 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 25.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 39,682 71,031
Total number of admissions given out 23,489 8,884
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,765 3,668
Yield rate 16.0% 41.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $77,896 $81,659
Average net price $43,545 $26,021
Tuition $55,920 $60,446
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,075

Meal plan: $7,820
Room/dormitory: $10,098

Meal plan: $6,634
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $31,590
72.0%
Average amount $40,690
Students receiving federal student loan 37.0%
Average amount $5,350
22.0%
Average amount $4,215
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $26,377
2.0%
Average amount $29,056

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 14,778
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5%
Graduate students 6,994
Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 67.2% 49.9%
International students 16.9% 23.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 8,291 8,700
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Mississippi California Pennsylvania California Texas New York Illinois Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.4% 92.0%
Dropout rate 17.0% 7.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,789
  • Year 2: $88,195
  • Year 3: $94,942
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,396
  • Year 2: $77,966
  • Year 3: $88,763
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,925
  • Year 2: $66,989
  • Year 3: $82,179
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,264
  • Year 2: $64,087
  • Year 3: $79,186
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,439
  • Year 2: $66,653
  • Year 3: $79,132
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,871
  • Year 2: $62,343
  • Year 3: $77,924
Business/Managerial Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $62,674
  • Year 3: $77,843
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,673
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $76,227
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,689
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $74,295
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,229
  • Year 2: $61,303
  • Year 3: $73,883
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $104,166
  • Year 2: $187,234
  • Year 3: $221,418
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $167,228
  • Year 2: $163,225
  • Year 3: $161,094
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,344
  • Year 2: $126,683
  • Year 3: $148,434
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $113,473
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $147,381
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,796
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $146,357
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $79,420
  • Year 2: $88,198
  • Year 3: $140,330
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,841
  • Year 2: $131,090
  • Year 3: $140,129
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,775
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $136,848
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,676
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $134,632
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,991
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $125,784

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