Established in 1870, Syracuse University is a private research university located in the heart of New York State.
It is home to the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, an excellent journalism and communication school that has been a part of Syracuse since 1919.
The school is located in the city of Syracuse, NY, with its campus occupying 721 acres of urban land.
As of the 2023 academic year, S. I. Newhouse has an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,000 students, with an additional 180 residential master’s degree students.
Considering the 200 students in the online master’s program and just over a dozen doctoral candidates, the total Newhouse student body population comes to around 2,400.
Being a part of the prestigious Syracuse University, it should come as no surprise that S. I. Newhouse is an excellent college for journalism and communications studies.
At the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, there are a wide array of degree programs in journalism, from the undergraduate level to doctoral.
For students pursuing a bachelor of science, there are eight different major options to choose from.
Some of these are broadcast and digital journalism; newspaper and online journalism; and recording and entertainment industries, to name just a few.
For any students who are considering a career in journalism and communications, going to a great college is a great way to kickstart your future.
Read on to learn about Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, to famous alumni, rankings, application requirements, and more.
Newhouse Ranking
Syracuse University is widely acknowledged as one of the best schools not only in the state of New York, but also in the entire US.
Although Syracuse University as a whole is a highly-regarded private school, constituent schools — such as S. I. Newhouse — are not generally ranked separately.
That being said, from available program rankings, one can see that Newhouse’s communications programs are top-tier.
According to the 2023 edition of the annual college rankings published by US News and World Report, Syracuse University is the #62 best university in the United States.
According to a 2023 ranked list published by Niche, Syracuse University is the #28 best college for communication in the United States.
Other noteworthy national rankings for S. I. Newhouse include #78 in terms of film and photography programs and #129 for best private universities.
At the state level, Syracuse University is ranked the #3 best college for studying communications in all of New York — the fourth most populous state in the country.
Syracuse is also ranked second in the state in terms of best student life. Other notable state rankings include #12 for best professors, #14 among private schools, #18 for academics, and #18 best university overall.
Newhouse Requirements
In order to be considered for admission to the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, all students must either have graduated from, or be enrolled in, high school or an equivalent program, such as a GED.
S. I. Newhouse does not have any specific course requirements for undergraduate programs, the school does advise all students to prepare themselves for their studies by taking four years worth of core courses.
These include mathematics, English, science, and social studies, plus three years of a foreign language.
First-year applicants can apply using the Common Application online. In addition to filling out the application itself, all applicants are also required to submit an official high school transcript, as well as two letters of recommendation from teachers or a school guidance counselor.
There is also a nonrefundable application fee of $85, although fee waivers are available.
Given the prestigious nature of the — not to mention that of Syracuse University as a whole — admission to the school is very competitive. As a result, the bar for academic achievement for admitted students is quite high.
In fact, the average high school GPA for admitted students is about a 3.7, with the median SAT score being 1290 without the writing portion. In terms of ACT scores, the average accepted student at Newhouse got between a 28 and a 30.
Looking at these figures, earning high marks during high school is essential to increasing your odds of getting into this prestigious school.
Notable Alumni of the Newhouse School of Public Communications
Throughout the college’s long history, Syracuse University’s SI Newhouse School of Public Communications has served as the alma mater for numerous remarkable individuals in various industries.
Newhouse’s alumni network is currently made up of more than 28,000 people living in all corners of the world. Many alumni remain quite active in the school community after graduating.
Perhaps one of S. I. Newhouse’s most recognizable alumni is American broadcast journalist Contessa Brewer. Brewer is a correspondent for CNBC, covering casinos and gaming.
U. S. News and World Report Managing Editor Lylah Alphonse is another Newhouse alum. In addition to the widely-known ranking and report site, Alphonse has also written and edited for a number of other widely-read publications, such as The Boston Globe and Yahoo.
Larry Hryb — perhaps better known by “Major Nelson,” his Xbox gamertag — is also a Newhouse alum. After earning his degree in public communications, Hyrb went on to become the Director of Programming at Xbox Live, the gaming network owned by Microsoft.
Another highly successful Newhouse alum is Dennis Crowley, an American technology entrepreneur who co-founded Foursquare.
After completing his bachelor’s degree at Newhouse, Crowley earned a master’s degree from New York University, where he later also served as an adjunct professor.
In the world of photography, there is Ruth Fremson, who is employed by the New York Times as a staff photographer. Initially planning to study the visual arts, Fremson decided to change her career plans after taking a digital photography course at the school.
Should You Attend S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications?
There are many reasons to consider attending the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
In addition to its world-class faculty instructors, its excellent academic programs, and its wide array of course and major offerings, Newhouse offers students the opportunity to learn in a close-knit academic environment, developing strong relationships with professors and peers.
With 80 full-time faculty members — plus 50 adjunct professors — and about 2,000 undergraduate students, the school boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of about 15:1. On top of this, well over 60% of classes at the school have 20 students or fewer.
For many students, small classes are ideal. If you can get to know your professors, interact with peers, and receive direct, one-on-one attention from instructors during class time, then S. I. Newhouse may be a great school choice for you.
Another significant part about S. I. Newhouse, as opposed to other journalism schools out there, is that Newhouse offers a number of dual enrollment programs.
These programs, offered through a partnership with other Syracuse U colleges, allow communications students to customize their course of study to suit their interests.
Newhouse has dual programs with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Whitman School of Management, and the School of Information Studies.
Beyond academics, location is another critical consideration.
Syracuse University has been named among the 56 most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to Conde Nast Traveller.
Considering all of the above, it can be said that Newhouse is not only a great school, but also a tremendous institution to spend your college years.
