BU vs. MHC

Deciding between Boston University and Mount Holyoke College? 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
Mount Holyoke College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

BU vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or MHC? 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 MHC ($24,420 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 3.4% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($19,020 vs. $19,684).
  • Boston University is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $1,084 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at BU than at Mount Holyoke College (about $1,084 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Boston University (77% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 18% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($61,848 vs. $52,418).

BU vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 20 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming BU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at MHC (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at BU (3.79).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 27.2% at MHC.

BU vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and MHC? 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).

  • The graduation rate at BU is the same as at Mount Holyoke College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $5,794 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($21,206 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC 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.