Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, NY, with solid academics, a beautiful 721-acre campus and strong school spirit.
Basic Facts
- 13,000 to 14,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students live on or near the campus.
- Over 200 majors and 100 minors offered within the University’s 13 schools and colleges.
- 49% of students study abroad for at least one semester.
- Average class size: 26 students and “nearly 60% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students.”
- Largest introductory classes: about 150 students
- Top 10% of admitted students get into the Honors Program
- 60 majors and 30 minors offered in the College of Arts and Sciences alone which is “home to one-third of the undergraduate student body.”
The Syracuse Community
- 36 learning and living communities give students the opportunity to live with students who have similar academic interests.
- 30% of students are involved in Greek life (12 sororities and 12 fraternities). Students rush in the spring of the freshman year to give them time to get acclimated to campus life and classes
- 20% of students participate in social clubs and 12% of students are involved in professional and service-oriented fraternities/sororities.
- 300 student clubs and organizations.
- All students in the first year have a faculty advisor, professional advisor, and a peer advisor.
- Launched new Orange Success online system to report on students who may be have difficulties. This system makes it easier for faculty and administrators to identify behavior that warrants interaction with other people and resources on campus.
- Entry into the Honors program is automatically considered upon admission and students also can apply to get into the Honors program the second semester of their sophomore year. Students in the Honors program are required to complete 50 hours of community service, take honors classes, and complete a capstone honors project that is the culmination of your four years of study.
- A quarter of a million Syracuse alumni/ae live in 171 countries around the globe.
Admissions Information
- 35,000 applications for fall 2018.
- 50% acceptance rate, but some programs are more competitive than others including the Newhouse School of Communications (6,000 applications for 300 openings), engineering, business, architecture, and the performing arts.
- Admissions officers assess the rigor of the student’s high school courses (this is a very important part of a student’s evaluation) and ACT and SAT scores have become increasingly important.
- Syracuse tracks demonstrated interest (e.g., campus visit, information session, virtual tour online, and interview). Admissions officer emphasizes that “An interview will almost never hurt a student.”
- Syracuse offers merit scholarships and about 30% of students receive some type of merit aid.