Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, New York in the Syracuse metropolitan area. It is a large research university with 15,421 undergraduate students. Selective admissions are in place, and Syracuse University acceptance rate is approximately 42%. Majors include Communications, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Visual & Performing Arts. 82% is the six-year graduation rate, and the median starting salary of Syracuse University graduates is around INR 63,13,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $76,200 median earnings).
The University of Southern California is a highly selective private research university located in Los Angeles, California in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university is large with an undergraduate student body of 21,000 students. It has very competitive admissions since the University of Southern California acceptance rate is approximately 10%. Some of the common majors include Business, Communications, Engineering, Social Sciences, and Visual & Performing Arts. The six-year graduation rate is 92%, while the University of Southern California graduates still receive a median initial salary of around INR 83,93,000 (converted from $101,400 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| Syracuse University | University of Southern California | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 741 QS World University 2026 # 401 Times Higher Education 2025 # 507 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 146 QS World University 2026 # 54 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 72 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 111 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 213 for Medicine by Round University Ranking 2018 # 107 for Law by US News 2025 | # 20 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 99 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 26 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -151 PG Programs -79 Doctorate Programs -1 | UG Programs -142 PG Programs -124 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 42.0 % | 12.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-500 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-90 | GMAT-690 GRE-306 IELTS-6.5 PTE-68 SAT-1360 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 54270 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 29175 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 15924 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 63468 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25795 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 39862 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Average annual salaries are lisited below :
| Graduate Employability Ranking 2023: 59 QS World University Ranking :#134 Average salaries are given below:
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| application requirements | Academic credentials; two academic recommendations; Proof of English language proficiency; SAT/ACT scores (Optional); Standardized test scores (GMAT/ GRE); Resume; Personal Statement/ Essays; Additional Requirements (Video component, work experience, research proposal) | 3 to 4 years of work experience for some graduate programs; at least 2 letters of recommendation; 2 to 3-page statement of purpose |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 10 reviews | 7.8/10 Read 37 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 151 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 54 for Business by US News 2025 # 251 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 49 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 72 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 130/160IELTS - 7.0/9TOEFL - 100/120 | IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | May 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Apr 15, 2025 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) Jun 15, 2025 (Round 3 Application Decision Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) Oct 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 15, 2025 (Round 1 Application Decision Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 10, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 18, 2026 (Round 2 Application Decision Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Syracuse University | University of Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1831 | 1880 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 48% Male, 52% Female |
| Location Facts | located in the heart of New York State in Syracuse; main campus sits on top of a hill overlooking the city of Syracuse; Additional centers located in New York City, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. | Has two campuses located in Los Angeles: University Park having Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and many professional schools; Health Science campus having Keck School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and three teaching hospitals. |
| Library | 4 libraries & Special Collections and Resource Center; 24/7 assistance; 4.8 million items; 697,448 ebooks; 45,000 feet of manuscripts and rare books & a cafe. | Over 22 campus libraries having – Total Volume: 5,919,656; Title Held: 5,007,597; Serials: 77,299; Physical Media: 172,964, Electronic Media: 122,269; Electronic Books: 1,682,067; Electronic Journals: 172,964; |
| Campus Life | Largest domed stadium in the nation- ‘The Loud House’; Hendricks Chapel; Performing Arts Centre; Schine and Goldstein Student Centers; Connective Corridor; Student Run Media; The Coalitions of Museums and Art Centres; University Bookstore; over 300 student organizations | Cultural Communities: Asian Pacific American Student Services, LGBT Resource Center, International Services, etc; Graduate, Undergraduate and Residential Student Governance; Volunteer Center; Trojan Marching Band; Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Services |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food - $15924 | #Rooms - $12271 #Room and Board - $19931 |
| Famous Alumni | 258,483 alumni; Joe Biden (47th vice president of USA); Eileen Collins (first female Space Shuttle pilot & commander); Aaron Sorkin (playwright & screenwriter); Al Waleed bin Talal (Saudi businessman, investor); Dick Clark (American radio & TV personality); Megyn Kelly (American journalist, political commentator, & news anchor); Vanessa Williams (national recording artist & actor); Drew Taggart (member of the Grammy-Award winning group The Chainsmokers). | Neil Armstrong (astronaut); George Lucas (creator of Star Wars); Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (former Prime Minister of Pakistan); John Wayne (Academy Award winner); Andrew Viterbi (co-founder of Qualcomm Inc.); Will Ferrell (actor) |
| City Life | Syracuse- 5th most populated city with metropolitan population of 700,000; hub for cultural, recreational, and artistic events such as Syracuse Stage, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Everson Museum of Art, Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Armory Square; Hanover Square restaurants, coffee houses, & shops, City Market, Destiny USA mall, festivals such as JazzFest, Winterfest, etc. Unemployment rate: 4.5% (Dec 2019). | Los Angeles (LA) is the second most populous city of USA; Hollywood is located here; 841 Museums and art gallaries, California Beaches, Disneyland park, Los Angeles offers various concert halls, regular festivals, and bustling nightlife; Ranked 7th on Global City Index and 9th on Global Economic Power Index; Unemployment rate in December 2022 was 4%; Industries employing maximum number of people are healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing |
| Weather |
Syracuse University vs University of Southern California
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
University of Southern California and Syracuse are both highly reputable, but University of Southern California is much higher globally. Syracuse is ranked #741-750 in QS and 401-500th in Times Higher Education and University of Southern California is ranked #146 in QS and 72nd in Times Higher Education. By discipline, Syracuse excels nationally in communications (Newhouse School), public policy (Maxwell School), and architecture. USC, on the other hand, leads in film & media, business, engineering, computer science, and social sciences, with globally preeminent programs at the Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and the School of Cinematic Arts.
General Information
Syracuse University is a private research institution in upstate New York, with about 22,000 students. It boasts a lively combination of professional schools and liberal arts, with a rich campus life and athletics tradition. USC, in Los Angeles, California, is a large private research institution with approximately 48,000 students. Its LA location ties it in with the industries of film, technology, and business, and provides it with a firm professional edge and a clearly international orientation.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Syracuse accepts approximately 42% of applicants and is moderately selective. It enrolls students for its communications, public affairs, and business strengths. USC is very selective with an acceptance rate of about 10%, attracting highest caliber applicants across the globe for top programs in film, business, and engineering. For international as well as domestic students, USC is far more competitive in admissions.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both institutions are R1 research schools, but USC's size and budget put it way out in front. USC boasts top-of-the-line facilities in engineering, health sciences, and computer sciences, plus top-flight research institutes in film/media and social sciences. Syracuse focuses on applied research and professional studies, with excellent facilities backing up public policy, communications, and social sciences. USC's immersion in LA industries makes its research particularly influential in tech, entertainment, and health.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both universities are pricey private schools with tuition over $63,000 annually before aid. USC is a tad more expensive overall because of location, though Syracuse is also pricey. Both offer need and merit aid, even to international students. USC provides mass-scale scholarships (e.g., Trustee and Presidential Scholarships), whereas Syracuse balances need-based aid with merit awards, particularly for superior prospects in its specialized colleges.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Syracuse graduates are well-represented in communications, politics, public affairs, and the law, with the Newhouse and Maxwell alumni networks particularly powerful. USC alumni reign supreme in entertainment, media, technology, and business, with its Los Angeles location and international alumni network offering unparalleled career opportunities. USC's access to Hollywood and Silicon Valley render it a magnet for film, tech startup, and global business careers, while Syracuse shines for journalism, government, and public service careers.
