BU vs. MIT

Should I go to Boston University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or MIT is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Boston University vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology comparison
Boston University Massachusetts Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Boston University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Overview

BU MIT
Location Boston, MA Cambridge, MA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 36,714 11,858
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #8
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu mit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU MIT
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $57,590
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $57,590
Room & Board $17,400 $18,790
Avg Net Price $27,829 $20,232
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $45,591
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 71%

Admission

BU MIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 33,767
Admitted 11,607 1,337
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 4%
Enrolled % 31.3% 85%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.96
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 35/36
SAT Range 1350/1500 1530/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

BU MIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 3:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

BU MIT
Graduation Rate 85% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $142,100
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $17,316
Median Loan Payment $279 $179

Diversity

BU MIT
% Men 43% 57%
% Women 57% 43%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 37%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 11% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 20% 10%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

BU MIT
% In-State 14% 7%
% Out-of-State 61% 81%

Campus

BU MIT
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than MIT based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 11,858 students)

BU vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or MIT?

  • Boston University is 6% more expensive to attend than MIT for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6% higher at BU than Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($61,050.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than BU ($20,232 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 8% lower than costs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($17,400 vs. $18,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Boston University (71% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 13.1% larger than aid received Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($51,565 vs. $45,591)

BU vs. MIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or MIT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MIT or BU .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1507) is 204 points higher than at BU (1303)
  • Incoming MIT students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at BU (29)
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at BU (3.79)
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (14.4%) than MIT (4%)

BU vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or MIT? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MIT and BU.

  • The graduation rate at MIT is higher than Boston University (93% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn on average $70,100 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($142,100 vs. $72,000)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology students graduate with a $9,684 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($17,316 vs. $27,000)
  • MIT graduates are paying $100 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($179 vs. $279)
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/