Syracuse University AI Policy for College Applications
Note: This policy classification has med confidence. We recommend verifying directly with Syracuse University's admissions office.
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L0 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D0 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E1 → E0 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Syracuse University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •Newhouse School (Graduate): AI use prohibited
- •iSchool Online (Graduate): AI use prohibited
- •Engineering Online (Graduate): AI use prohibited
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: Med
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on undergraduate admissions website”
— What We Look For - Syracuse University(Verified: Feb 2026)
“a personal statement, written entirely by you with no outside assistance”
— Application Process - Newhouse School at Syracuse University(Verified: Feb 2026)
“personal statement, written entirely by you with no outside assistance, detailing why you wish to study”
— Admissions - Syracuse University iSchool Online(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Newhouse School (Graduate)
“a personal statement, written entirely by you with no outside assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
iSchool Online (Graduate)
“personal statement, written entirely by you with no outside assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Engineering Online (Graduate)
“personal statement, written entirely by you with no outside assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Newhouse School (Graduate) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| iSchool Online (Graduate) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Engineering Online (Graduate) | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (15)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/undergraduate/what-we-look-for/
- https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/undergraduate/
- https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/undergraduate/first-year/application-checklist/
- https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/undergraduate/college-specific-requirements/
- https://newhouse.syracuse.edu/admissions/graduate/application-process/
- https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/information-science/admissions/
- https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/engineering/admissions/
- https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/communications/admissions/
- https://professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/apply/application-requirements/
- https://nationalscholarships.syr.edu/student-resources/student-resources/writing-personal-statements/
- https://researchguides.library.syr.edu/c.php?g=1341750&p=10458964
- https://academicaffairs.syracuse.edu/important-syllabus-reminders/
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | Med |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
Syracuse University has no explicit AI-specific policy for admissions essays at the university level. The main undergraduate admissions pages make no mention of AI, ChatGPT, or generative AI in the context of application essays. However, several graduate programs (Newhouse School, iSchool Online, Engineering Online) require personal statements be 'written entirely by you with no outside assistance,' which implicitly prohibits AI use but does not explicitly name AI. The university's academic AI policy (three-option syllabus framework) applies only to courses, not admissions. The 'written entirely by you with no outside assistance' language predates generative AI and is general anti-assistance language, not AI-specific, so the overall classification remains L0 at the university level. Program-specific entries reflect the stricter graduate program requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Syracuse University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Syracuse University?
How does Syracuse University check for AI?
Which Syracuse University programs have different AI policies?
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