Syracuse University is an elite private research university based in Syracuse, New York in the Syracuse metropolitan area. The university is large and has 15,421 undergraduate students. The admissions are selective, with Syracuse University acceptance rate being around 42%. The offered majors are Communications, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Visual & Performing Arts. The graduation rate is 82% for six years, and Syracuse University graduates earn a median starting salary of around INR 63,13,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $76,200 median earnings).
Rutgers University is a well-known public research university with its base in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the New York City metropolitan area. It is a big university with 36,039 undergraduate students. Admission is relatively competitive, with Rutgers University acceptance rate at 58%. Popular majors include Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Health Professions. The six-year graduation is at 84%, and Rutgers University graduates continue to receive a median starting salary of about INR 65,56,000 (converted from $79,200 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| Syracuse University | Rutgers University - New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5 Out of 10 | 5.3 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 741 QS World University 2026 # 401 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 328 QS World University 2026 # 301 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 | # 72 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 351 for Law by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -151 PG Programs -79 Doctorate Programs -1 | UG Programs -146 PG Programs -99 Doctorate Programs -10 |
| Acceptance Rate | 42.0 % | 65.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-500 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-90 | IELTS-6 SAT-1190 TOEFL-85 |
| 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 14506 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 15072 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 33851 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Average annual salaries are lisited below :
| Average annual salary is 72,000 USD. Popular recruiters are Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin Corp, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Highest paying degrees include MBA (145,000 USD); Masters (120,000 USD); Bachelor of Science (101,000 USD); Master of Science (100,000 USD). |
| 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) | Academic transcripts; LORs; Essays; Test Scores; English proficiency scores; Resume.GPA requirements are around 3.73 for students (Grade- A-B+). |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 10 reviews | 8.5/10 Read 6 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 | # 53 for Business by US News 2025 # 251 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120 | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 68/75TOEFL - 90/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Early Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 15, 2026 (Regular Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) | May 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For ROUND 4 2025 intake) Nov 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For ROUND 1 2026 intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 2 2026 intake) Mar 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 3 2026 intake) May 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 4 2026 intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Syracuse University | Rutgers University - New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1831 | 1766 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 50% Male, 50% 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. | Oldest of the 3 RU campuses spread across 6 municipalities in Middlesex County; located in New Brunswick and Piscataway; Consists of 2,685 acres of 5 campuses- Busch, Cook, College Avenue, Livingston, Douglass. Located on both sides of Raritan River; offers convenient access to New York City and Philadelphia |
| 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. | Rutgers University Libraries (RUL) system has 26 libraries, centers and reading rooms housing 5,579,900 total print and electronic volumes. 2,648,964 In-Person Visits; 3,273,398 Online Visits; 159,368 Print Circulations; 10 million+ Circulation of Online Resources; 3,111,380 Ebook Downloads; 111,781 Video Streams. |
| 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 | 6 student centers, and 4 recreation centers; second-largest bus fleet in New Jersey; SHI Stadium; Louis Bow Athletic Center; Rutgers Ecological Preserve; Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum; RU Geology Museum; Rutgers Garden. You can indulge in a total of 750 student organizations and 100+ intramural teams and sports clubs. 4 student dining halls are available on-campus. |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food - $15924 | #On campus - $12452 #Off campus (not with family) - $18386 #Off campus (with family) - $3013 |
| 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). | Over 500,000 alumni worldwide. Louis J. Freeh (Former Director FBI); Keith Sonnier (Artist); Betty Shannon (Mathematician); Gus Edwards (American Footballer); Charles Henry Selick (American Director); Duron Harmon (American Football safety); Selman Abraham Waksman (Inventor- discovered streptomycin) |
| 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). | New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County situated along the Raritan River; Johnson and Johnson’s worldwide headquarter is located here; Economy is majorly dependant on forestry, mining and finishing; Other major industries are tourism, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing industries; Unemployment rate was 2.5% in April 2019 |
| Weather |
Syracuse University vs Rutgers University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Syracuse University and Rutgers University possess good reputations, although Rutgers tends to be ranked higher globally based on size and research profile. Rutgers is ranked #328 in QS and 301-350th in Times Higher Education, whereas Syracuse is ranked #741-750 in QS and 401-500th in Times Higher Education.By disciplines, Syracuse leads in communications, public affairs, business, and architecture, with its nationally top-ranked Newhouse School and Maxwell School. Rutgers is more robust in sciences, engineering, business, law, and humanities, a testament to its role as a flagship public research university.
General Information
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, with approximately 22,000 students. It is popular for integrating professional schools and liberal arts education and has a lively campus life. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a large public flagship with three principal campuses (New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden), admitting more than 67,000 students. Rutgers has an enormous portfolio of academic programs and a robust research infrastructure and is New Jersey's main public research institution.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Syracuse is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of roughly 42%, for a private university. It draws students from across the country for communications, policy, and business programs. Rutgers, as a public university with a wider mission, has an acceptance rate of approximately 58%, although various programs (e.g., engineering, honors, and business) are more competitive. For both, students' opportunities differ extensively with program selection.
Research Impact & Facilities
Rutgers, a Big Ten Academic Alliance and R1 research university, boasts large facilities in sciences, engineering, medicine, and public policy. Its libraries and labs are among the best in the area. Syracuse is also R1 rated but less large in focus, prioritizing applied research and professional instruction. Its Maxwell School is internationally known for public policy, and its communications research using Newhouse is state-of-the-art.
Cost & Financial Aid
Syracuse has higher tuition, with costs of approximately $63,000 per year for undergraduates prior to aid. Rutgers, being a public school, has in-state tuition approximately $17,000 and out-of-state tuition approximately $33,000, making it much more affordable, particularly for New Jersey residents. Both schools have financial aid available, but Syracuse uses merit and need-based aid predominantly, whereas Rutgers assists students almost entirely through state programs and institutional grants.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Syracuse alumni are successful in media, public affairs, law, and business, with its network being strong in journalism, politics, and public service. Rutgers alumni are well-suited to succeed across a wider range of fields—science, healthcare, law, and business—due to its size and research reach. Rutgers has advantages from being close to New York City and Philadelphia, having extensive professional opportunities available, while Syracuse is especially strong in communications and government service pipelines.
