Syracuse University: insights · College Underdog

Syracuse University

What Syracuse University's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.

Who says yesSyracuse University

Only 17% of admits enroll, so Syracuse University admits far more students than it has seats.

Enroll17%

Go elsewhere83%

Source: Syracuse University's Common Data Set 2025-26

Test scoresSyracuse University

23% sent an SAT and 8% an ACT (some sent both), so most enrolled without a score. SAT middle 50% among those who sent: 1300–1410.

Sent an SAT23%

Sent an ACT8%

Source: Syracuse University's Common Data Set 2025-26

WaitlistSyracuse University

2,039 of 6,530 students who stayed on the list were admitted. Stay on it.

Admitted off the list31%

Not admitted69%

Source: Syracuse University's Common Data Set 2025-26

The share of international students in the first-year class has fallen from 14% to 4% since 2018-19, about 1.6 points a year.
The share of women in the first-year class has risen from 55% to 59% since 2018-19, about 0.6 points a year.
6,530 students stayed on the waitlist and 2,039 were admitted from it (31.2%).
Only 23% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score, so its SAT range describes a minority of the class.
After ED, 2,491 of 3,969 seats were left for 43,991 other applicants: about one seat for every 18.
Early Decision filled about 37% of the 2025-26 first-year class, more than 55% of similar colleges.
ED applicants were admitted at 56%, against 48.4% for everyone else: 1.2 times the rate.
Applications rose 33% from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (34,981 to 46,645), faster than 54% of colleges here.

From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.

Nearly all admits who named a round (about 21 of 22) applied Regular Decision; one applied Early Decision.
Most admits (about 25 of 57) held leadership roles, such as captain, club president, section leader, or class officer.
Many admits (about 25) shared SAT scores of roughly 1440 to 1580, though others got in with scores near 1260 to 1330 or test optional.
Many admits (about 10) founded a business, nonprofit, club, or research project, rather than only joining one.
Several admits carried real responsibilities like caregiving, manual or retail jobs, or hours of volunteering.
Students report merit aid is uneven: many admits, including ones accepted to strong programmes, saw no merit award in the letter.
Students report merit awards of roughly $30,000 to $33,000 a year (Orange-tier or Leadership Scholarship) arriving with acceptance.
Students describe the sticker price (about $60,000 a year or more) as steep, and most commenters say it is hard to justify against cheaper options.
Students report Regular Decision results often come in the fourth week of March on a Friday, sometimes earlier than the posted date.