Babson vs. BU

Babson College and Boston University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Babson College
Boston University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: BU (11.1% admitted vs 17.1%). Typical SAT 1480 vs 1460.
  • Cheaper after aid: BU. Average net price is $24,420 vs $32,019 at Babson.
  • Graduation: Babson 90% vs BU 85%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Babson $108,500 vs BU $72,000 (median).
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Key differences

Babson College Boston University
Acceptance rate
BU more selective
Babson17.1%
BU11.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
BU higher
Babson1390-1530
BU1420-1530
Average net price
BU $7,599 less
Babson$32,019
BU$24,420
In-state tuition
Babson $10,950 less
Babson$57,152
BU$68,102
Out-of-state tuition
Babson $10,950 less
Babson$57,152
BU$68,102
Graduation rate
Babson +5 pts
Babson90%
BU85%
Median earnings (10 years)
Babson +$36,500
Babson$108,500
BU$72,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Babson 9,381
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Babson 1,603
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance rate
  • Babson 17.1%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Babson 39%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Babson 1460
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Babson 32
  • BU 33
  • Average high school GPA
  • Babson 3.79
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical high school grades
  • Babson A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Babson Exceptional
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Babson Very High
  • BU Very High
  • SAT range
  • Babson 1390-1530
  • BU 1420-1530
  • ACT range
  • Babson 31-34
  • BU 32-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Babson Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Babson Jan 3, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Babson $57,152
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Babson $57,152
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & board
  • Babson $21,550
  • BU $19,020
  • Average net price
  • Babson $32,019
  • BU $24,420
  • Average grant aid
  • Babson $48,173
  • BU $61,848
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Babson 39%
  • BU 49%
  • Graduation rate
  • Babson 90%
  • BU 85%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Babson $108,500
  • BU $72,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Babson 88%
  • BU 82%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Babson $26,000
  • BU $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Babson $268
  • BU $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Babson 15:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • Babson
    • Business (100%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Location
  • Babson Wellesley, MA
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Babson Large Suburban
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Babson 3,932
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Babson Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Babson #108
  • BU #73

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Boston University is larger than Babson based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,932 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; Boston University 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 11.7% lower than at Babson College ($19,020 vs. $21,550).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.2% higher at BU than at Babson College (about $10,950 more per year; $68,102 vs. $57,152).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Babson College (49% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 28.4% larger than aid received by Babson College students ($61,848 vs. $48,173).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at BU than at Babson (33 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Babson and BU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Babson students have the same average high school GPA (3.79) as students at BU (3.79).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 37.4% at BU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Babson College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Babson graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Babson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation (88% vs. 82%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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