Syracuse University

Syracuse University Overview

Syracuse University (SU or 'Cuse) is a renowned private research university located in Syracuse, New York, USA, with a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1870. Originally associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Situated in the University Hill neighborhood, the campus showcases a diverse mix of architectural styles, spanning from nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival to contemporary buildings.

SU is structured into 13 schools and colleges and is classified as an "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity." The university boasts an impressive list of alumni, faculty, and affiliates, including the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Nobel Prize laureates, Olympic Medalists, Pulitzer Prize recipients, Academy Award winners, and prominent political figures.

The Syracuse University athletic teams, known as the Orange, actively participate in 20 intercollegiate sports and are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for NCAA Division I athletics, except for the men's rowing and women's ice hockey teams.

The university's roots can be traced back to the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary founded in 1831. Over time, the institution evolved into a college and later sought a new location in Syracuse, which eventually led to the founding of Syracuse University in 1870. The new university received generous support from the Methodist church and the City of Syracuse.

Syracuse University officially opened in September 1871, starting in rented space downtown. However, Judge George F. Comstock offered 50 acres of farmland on a hillside southeast of the city center, envisioning the university and the hill developing as an integrated whole.

Today, Syracuse University continues to be a prestigious educational institution with a wide array of academic programs and a vibrant campus community.