BU vs. Fitchburg State

Deciding between Boston University and Fitchburg State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
Fitchburg State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Fitchburg State Fitchburg, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Fitchburg State Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Fitchburg State 5,892
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Fitchburg State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Fitchburg State #573
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Fitchburg State -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Fitchburg State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Fitchburg State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Fitchburg State $11,346
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Fitchburg State $17,426
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Fitchburg State $15,452
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Fitchburg State $15,340
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Fitchburg State $11,539
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Fitchburg State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Fitchburg State 4,582
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Fitchburg State 3,983
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Fitchburg State 86.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Fitchburg State 13.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Fitchburg State 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Fitchburg State
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Fitchburg State 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Fitchburg State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Fitchburg State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Fitchburg State
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Fitchburg State
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Fitchburg State 1060/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Fitchburg State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Fitchburg State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Fitchburg State 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Fitchburg State
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Fitchburg State 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Fitchburg State $44,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Fitchburg State 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Fitchburg State $22,685
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Fitchburg State $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Fitchburg State 40%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Fitchburg State 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Fitchburg State Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Fitchburg State No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Fitchburg State 73%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Fitchburg State 3%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Fitchburg State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Fitchburg State 11%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Fitchburg State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Fitchburg State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Fitchburg State 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Fitchburg State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Fitchburg State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Fitchburg State 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Fitchburg State 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Fitchburg State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Fitchburg State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Fitchburg State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Fitchburg State No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Fitchburg State based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 5,892 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Fitchburg State University is in Fitchburg, MA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fitchburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Fitchburg State University 11:1.

BU vs. Fitchburg State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Fitchburg State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than BU ($15,340 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 18.8% lower than at Boston University ($15,452 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 500.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fitchburg State (about $56,756 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $11,346.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 290.8% higher at BU than at Fitchburg State University (about $50,676 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $17,426.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fitchburg State University than at Boston University (92% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 436% larger than aid received by Fitchburg State University students ($61,848 vs. $11,539).

BU vs. Fitchburg State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Fitchburg State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fitchburg State and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 330 points higher than at Fitchburg State (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Fitchburg State University 1060/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Fitchburg State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29).
  • Fitchburg State has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 13.5% at Fitchburg State.

BU vs. Fitchburg State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Fitchburg State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Fitchburg State University's (47%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $28,000 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $44,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fitchburg State University graduates have a $4,315 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,685 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Fitchburg State graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($234 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.