Syracuse University campus
Syracuse, United States
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Syracuse University

Syracuse·university

#801

QS Rank

66%

Acceptance rate

21%

Intl. students

$69,180

Tuition/yr

20,000

Enrollment

15:1

Student:Faculty

About Syracuse University

Elite private research university in Syracuse, NY. Top engineering, business, and liberal arts.

Syracuse University is a private research university founded in 1870, located in Syracuse, New York. It enrolls approximately 21,000 students across 13 schools and colleges, offering programs from undergraduate to doctoral level. It holds US News 2025 ranking of #73 among national universities.

The university is best known for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, consistently ranked among the top journalism and media programs in the United States. The Whitman School of Management undergraduate business program ranks #40 nationally (US News 2024), and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is highly regarded for political science and public administration. The iSchool (School of Information Studies) is a leading program in library and information science.

The main campus spans 270 acres in Syracuse, a mid-sized city in upstate New York. Annual tuition for international undergraduates is approximately $69,180 for 2026-27, with a total estimated cost of attendance around $100,526. The university reports about 21% of its student body are international students.

World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings (2026)#801
Times Higher Education (THE) (2025)#801
US News Best Global Universities (2025)#80

Campus & Location

Province

NY

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 900–1,500/mo. Food: USD 350–550/mo. Upstate NY; affordable mid-size city. SU has a large international and Nepali student base.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.

For Nepali students

  • Nepali students with interests in communications, journalism, information management, or public policy will find Syracuse's Newhouse, iSchool, and Maxwell programs among the strongest in the US, each carrying strong employer recognition that can ease post-graduation job placement under OPT (12 months) and STEM OPT (36 months for qualifying programs like data science).
  • International students, including those from Nepal, are considered for merit-based scholarships awarded by the Admissions Committee at the time of admission, no separate application is required, making it accessible for strong academic candidates.
  • With roughly 21% international students out of ~21,000 total, Syracuse has a sizable international community, and there is an active South Asian Students Association on campus offering peer networks for Nepali and South Asian students.
  • At roughly $69,180 in tuition (2026-27), Syracuse sits in the higher cost tier among US private universities; however, its strong alumni networks in media, finance, and public service, combined with OPT/STEM OPT work authorization, can provide meaningful returns for career-focused Nepali graduates.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.
IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Data last verified: 2026-06-18 · Source: https://www.syracuse.edu. Information may change — verify with Syracuse University’s official website before applying.