Students at Syracuse University achieve exceptionally strong long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationwide for graduate financial outcomes.
The university delivers particularly impressive results for low-income students, demonstrating its ability to create meaningful economic mobility through rigorous academics and extensive career support.
Syracuse University ranks among the top private institutions nationwide for long-term graduate earnings, placing in the 91st percentile for return on investment. This large private research university in upstate New York consistently delivers strong financial outcomes for its graduates, with median 10-year earnings of $79,164 that significantly outpace many peer institutions. While Syracuse serves a more selective student population—with about 16% of students receiving Pell Grants and 19% being first-generation—it excels at converting that selectivity into meaningful career success.
The university's strength lies in its ability to prepare students for high-earning careers across multiple fields. Programs in banking and financial services, information science, and applied economics lead to particularly strong outcomes, with graduates regularly entering competitive industries in finance, technology, and consulting. Syracuse's extensive alumni network and strong employer relationships help facilitate these career transitions.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Syracuse University combines academic rigor with exceptional post-graduation outcomes. The university's location in New York State provides access to major metropolitan job markets while maintaining the focused academic environment of a traditional campus setting. For families who can manage the higher upfront investment, Syracuse delivers some of the strongest long-term financial returns available among private universities.
Syracuse University's program portfolio demonstrates particular strength in business, technology, and applied fields that lead directly to high-earning careers. Banking and Financial Support Services emerges as the standout program, combining substantial enrollment of 231 graduates with strong median earnings of $64,087, creating the highest aggregate return among all majors. This program exemplifies Syracuse's ability to prepare students for competitive financial services careers.
Information Science represents the university's highest-earning field, with 216 graduates achieving median earnings of $67,101 early in their careers. This reflects Syracuse's growing strength in technology and data-driven fields that command premium salaries in today's economy. Applied Economics, as the largest program with 274 graduates, provides a solid foundation with median earnings of $47,846, demonstrating the university's ability to deliver strong outcomes at scale.
The program mix reveals Syracuse's strategic focus on professionally-oriented fields that connect directly to high-value career paths. While the university maintains programs across the liberal arts spectrum—including creative fields like Acting—the strongest financial returns cluster in business, technology, and applied disciplines where employer demand remains consistently strong and career progression opportunities are abundant.
Syracuse University graduates achieve exceptionally strong long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $79,164, positioning Syracuse in the 91st percentile for earnings outcomes. This strong performance reflects both the university's academic rigor and its ability to connect students with high-value career opportunities across multiple industries.
The university's program portfolio drives much of this success. Banking and Financial Support Services stands out as the highest aggregate-return major, combining strong enrollment of 231 graduates with solid median earnings of $64,087. Information Science represents the highest-earning field with graduates earning $67,101 early in their careers, while Applied Economics serves as the largest program with 274 graduates earning a median of $47,846. Even programs with more modest early earnings, like Acting, contribute to the university's diverse academic offerings, though they represent smaller cohorts.
Syracuse's strength in business, technology, and applied fields creates pathways into industries known for strong career progression and earning potential. The university's extensive alumni network, particularly strong in major metropolitan areas, helps facilitate career advancement and contributes to the sustained earning power that graduates demonstrate throughout their careers.
Syracuse University presents significant affordability challenges, particularly for middle- and low-income families, ranking in just the 4th percentile nationally for affordability. Low-income students face annual net prices of $21,505, while middle-income families pay $19,633—both substantial amounts that require careful financial planning. High-income families encounter the full impact of Syracuse's pricing structure, with net costs reaching $55,337 annually.
The debt picture reflects these high upfront costs. Typical graduates leave with $26,000 in federal student loan debt, while families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $34,838. These combined borrowing levels create meaningful financial obligations that require strong post-graduation earnings to manage comfortably. However, Syracuse's track record of producing graduates with median earnings near $79,164 provides the income foundation needed to service these debt levels effectively.
What makes Syracuse's affordability equation work for many families is the institution's proven ability to deliver strong return on investment. While the upfront costs are substantial, graduates consistently achieve earnings levels that justify the initial financial commitment. The university's 88% loan repayment rate and 0% default rate demonstrate that most borrowers successfully manage their debt obligations, supported by the strong career outcomes that Syracuse facilitates.
Syracuse University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
