BU vs. RIT

Should I go to Boston University or Rochester Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or RIT 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. Rochester Institute of Technology comparison
Boston University Rochester Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Boston University Rochester Institute of Technology
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Overview

BU RIT
Location Boston, MA Rochester, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 36,714 16,615
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #172
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu rit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU RIT
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $53,720
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $53,720
Room & Board $17,400 $14,978
Avg Net Price $27,829 $39,600
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $29,122
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 97%

Admission

BU RIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 23,976
Admitted 11,607 16,105
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 67.2%
Enrolled % 31.3% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 29/33
SAT Range 1350/1500 1270/1450
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

BU RIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)

Outcomes

BU RIT
Graduation Rate 85% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $64,900
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $289

Diversity

BU RIT
% Men 43% 65%
% Women 57% 35%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 66%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 20% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

BU RIT
% In-State 14% 47%
% Out-of-State 61% 49%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than RIT based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 16,615 students)

BU vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or RIT ?

  • Boston University is 13.6% more expensive to attend than RIT for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at BU than Rochester Institute of Technology ($61,050.00 vs. $53,720.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than RIT ($27,829 vs. $39,600)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 16.2% lower than costs at Boston University ($14,978 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than Boston University (97% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 77.1% larger than aid received Rochester Institute of Technology ($51,565 vs. $29,122)

BU vs. RIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 52 points higher than at RIT (1251)
  • Incoming BU students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at RIT (29)
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RIT (3.7)
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (67.2%) than BU (14.4%)

BU vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or RIT ? 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 RIT and BU.

  • The graduation rate at BU is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology (85% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Boston University earn on average $7,100 more per year than RIT graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $64,900)
  • Boston University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,000)
  • BU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($279 vs. $289)
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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