Syracuse, New York Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Syracuse, New York shows: median public in-state tuition $21,758 (+294.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $62,731 (+15.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 45.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S.) 24,683 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 24,683 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $21,758 (+294.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $62,731 (+15.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 45.5% (-42.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,614 (+106.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 73.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 87.0%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Syracuse, New York—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against New York and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Syracuse vs New York & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, New York | $21,758 | $20,614 | $15,000 | 73.1% | 24,683 |
| New York (state median) | $7,340 | $9,373 | $15,215 | 56.3% | 800,389 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Syracuse, New York vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, New York | $62,731 | 45.5% | 87.0% | 3.2% | — | 84.9% | 0.33 |
| New York (state median) | $60,386 | 42.9% | 81.6% | 4.0% | — | 75.8% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New York (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, New York | $21,758 | $20,614 | $15,000 | 73.1% | 24,683 | $62,731 | 45.5% |
| New York | $25,731 | $28,444 | $15,398 | 71.9% | 169,649 | $61,060 | 53.6% |
| Brooklyn | $12,340 | $12,072 | $11,000 | 48.1% | 56,245 | $46,498 | 38.3% |
| Bronx | $8,750 | $13,507 | $9,696 | 56.7% | 40,728 | $65,756 | 40.4% |
| Buffalo | $19,775 | $15,386 | $21,028 | 33.3% | 36,598 | $60,681 | 43.9% |
| Rochester | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 | $66,944 | 45.3% |
| Rochester | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 | $66,944 | 45.3% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 83.6%, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 73.1%, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 66.3%, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 54.8%, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 45.5%, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 41.3%, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Top 10 most selective colleges in Syracuse, New York (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 45.9%, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Admission Rate, 63.3%, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 3, Admission Rate, 83.0%, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $84,793, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,500, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $120,773, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $99,249, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $99,009, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,459, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $53,493, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,327, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,598, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $59,119, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,896, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $79,164, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $62,731, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,763, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $184,839, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $172,277, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $145,500, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Syracuse, New York (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $18,952, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 2, Net Price, $22,277, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
-
Rank 3, Net Price, $38,793, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Top 10 colleges in Syracuse, New York by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.1%, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
-
Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 87.0%, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
-
Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 83.5%, Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
In-state tuition: Syracuse, New York vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Syracuse, New York median in-state tuition is $21,758, +294.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Syracuse, New York vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Syracuse, New York is $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Syracuse, New York vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Syracuse, New York center around $62,731 (+15.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Syracuse, New York vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 45.5% at the median Syracuse, New York campus (-42.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Syracuse, New York median public in-state tuition is $21,758, about +294.7% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +194.7%.
Median graduate debt is $15,000 (+11.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Syracuse, New York are $62,731, about +15.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 45.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-42.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 87.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 84.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Syracuse University (54.8%), SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (45.5%), Le Moyne College (41.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Syracuse, New York is 73.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Syracuse?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Syracuse, New York with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Syracuse?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Syracuse is $21,758 and median net price is $20,614. For New York overall, medians are $7,340 and $9,373; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Syracuse?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Syracuse is $62,731 vs $60,386 for New York and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Syracuse colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Syracuse is $15,000 vs $15,215 for New York and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Syracuse?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Syracuse University (graduation) and Syracuse University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Syracuse?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Syracuse, New York, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2).
Sources & related
- New York college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON