BU vs. Fordham

Deciding between Boston University and Fordham 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
Fordham University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Fordham University 14:1.

BU vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Fordham? 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 Boston University than Fordham ($24,420 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 21% lower than at Fordham University ($19,020 vs. $24,090).
  • Boston University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $3,187 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at BU than at Fordham University (about $3,187 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Boston University (95% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 71.9% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($61,848 vs. $35,988).

BU vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Fordham? 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 Fordham and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 80 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

BU vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Fordham? 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Fordham graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.