Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · founded 1870 · 23,000 students · private research university · Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

Known for: Syracuse University is renowned for its top-ranked Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, its prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and its storied NCAA Division I athletics, especially basketball, in a snowy upstate New York setting.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #67
QS World: #751
Times Higher Education: #401
ARWU Shanghai: #901
Forbes: #112

Top programmes

Public Communications
Public Affairs
Architecture
Information Studies
Visual and Performing Arts
Engineering

Notable alumni

Joe Biden — 46th President of the United States
Carmelo Anthony — NBA basketball star and Olympic gold medalist
Dick Clark — Television personality and host of 'American Bandstand'
Vanessa Williams — Actress and singer, first African American Miss America
Bob Costas — Sportscaster
Joyce Carol Oates — Author and professor
Aaron Sorkin — Academy Award-winning screenwriter ('The Social Network')
Jenna Dewan — Actress and dancer

Traditions

Melting the 'C' (painting a large 'C' on the quad in spring)
Homecoming and Orange Central
Mayfest
Basketball games in the Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome)
The 'Saltine Warrior' and 'Otto' mascot history

If Syracuse University were…

As a food: Salt potatoes — A Syracuse original: humble, salty, and deceptively simple—like SU’s upstate grit masked by flashy communications and basketball glamour.
As an athlete: Carmelo Anthony — The one-and-done superstar who brought a title and swagger—mirroring SU’s ability to launch legends quickly, especially when orange is involved.
As a person alive today: Joy Behar — The quick-witted, media-savvy SU alum who thrives in chaos—much like the university’s blend of snowy isolation and loud cultural output.
As a historical figure: Horace Greeley — The newspaperman who urged 'Go West'—akin to SU’s mission to send journalists, advertisers, and reformers out into the world.
As a movie or TV show: The Office — A mix of cold settings, quirky characters, and unexpected brilliance—like SU’s combination of brutal winters and creatively explosive communications grads.
As a US president: Joe Biden — The most famous SU law grad—persistent, occasionally gaffe-prone, but always resilient, much like the Orange spirit.
As a city: Buffalo — Snowy, underrated, and fiercely loyal—like Syracuse’s vibe, where winter lasts 8 months but school spirit never thaws.
As an element: Sulfur — Pungent, elemental, and essential for gunpowder—like SU’s combination of occasional stink (weather), fundamental media power, and explosive basketball energy.
As a car: 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited — Syracuse combines rugged winter capability with removable-roof party readiness—loud, spirited, built for snowy tailgates and Newhouse networking, equally at home conquering Upstate winters and Marshall Street bar crawls.

Campus life

Syracuse offers a vibrant campus life with intense school spirit, particularly around basketball. The social scene is active with a strong Greek life presence and many student organizations. The campus is a self-contained hill overlooking the city, fostering a strong community identity.