BC vs. BU
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Should I go to Boston College or Boston University? Compare the two schools' costs, SAT, ACT, GPA, admissions criteria and outcomes to help you determine if BC or BU is the better college for you.
BC Comparison
| BC | BU | |
|---|---|---|
| Remove | Remove | |
| Location | Chestnut Hill, MA | Boston, MA |
| Setting | Small City | Large City |
| Students | 14,720 | 34,657 |
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year |
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit |
Costs |
||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,600 | $52,816 |
| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,600 | $52,816 |
| Room & Board | $14,478 | $15,720 |
| Avg Net Price | $27,299 | $33,728 |
| Avg Grant Aid | $40,716 | $34,156 |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 43% | 48% |
Admission and Academics |
||
| Acceptance Rate | 27.9% | 22.1% |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.59 |
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional |
| Applicant Competition | High | Very High |
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 30/33 |
| SAT Range | 1320/1490 | 1330/1500 |
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2020 | Jan 1, 2020 |
Outcomes |
||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 85% |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $90,900 | $72,000 |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 82% |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $27,000 |
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $279 |
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than BC based on total student enrollment (34,657 students vs. 14,720 students)
BC vs. BU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BC or BU?
- Boston College is 3.4% more expensive to attend than BU for in-state tuition ($54,600.00 vs. $52,816.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at BC than Boston University ($54,600.00 vs. $52,816.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than BU ($27,299 vs. $33,728)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 8.6% lower than costs at Boston University ($14,478 vs. $15,720)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than Boston College (48% vs. 43%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 19.2% larger than aid received Boston University ($40,716 vs. $34,156)
BC vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BC or BU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BU or BC .
- The average SAT score at Boston College (1380) is 77 points higher than at BU (1303)
- Incoming BC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at BU (29)
- BC has a higher acceptance rate (27.9%) than BU (22.1%)
BC vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BC or BU? 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 BU and BC.
- The graduation rate at BC is higher that Boston University (91% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Boston College earn on average $18,900 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $72,000)
- Boston College students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $27,000)
- BC graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($196 vs. $279)
- More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/