BU vs. NJIT

Deciding between Boston University and New Jersey Institute of Technology? 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
New Jersey Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • NJIT Newark, NJ
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • NJIT Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • NJIT 13,247
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • NJIT Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • NJIT #195
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • NJIT -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • NJIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • NJIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • NJIT $19,974
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • NJIT $37,664
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • NJIT $16,450
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • NJIT $17,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • NJIT $18,084
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • NJIT 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • NJIT 15,607
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • NJIT 10,156
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • NJIT 65.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • NJIT 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • NJIT 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • NJIT 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • NJIT 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • NJIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • NJIT Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • NJIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • NJIT 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • NJIT 1210/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • NJIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • NJIT Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • NJIT 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • NJIT
    • Engineering (38%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering Technology (14%)
    • Architecture (13%)
    • Business (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • NJIT 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • NJIT $67,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • NJIT 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • NJIT $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • NJIT $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • NJIT 69%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • NJIT 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • NJIT Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • NJIT No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • NJIT 33%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • NJIT 22%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • NJIT 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • NJIT 22%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • NJIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • NJIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • NJIT 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • NJIT 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • NJIT 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • NJIT 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • NJIT 6%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than NJIT based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 13,247 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); New Jersey Institute of Technology is in Newark, NJ (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; New Jersey Institute of Technology 17:1.

BU vs. NJIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or NJIT? 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology than BU ($17,313 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Jersey Institute of Technology are 13.5% lower than at Boston University ($16,450 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 241% more expensive for in-state tuition than NJIT (about $48,128 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $19,974.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.8% higher at BU than at New Jersey Institute of Technology (about $30,438 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $37,664.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Jersey Institute of Technology than at Boston University (91% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 242% larger than aid received by New Jersey Institute of Technology students ($61,848 vs. $18,084).

BU vs. NJIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 140 points higher than at NJIT (1340).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at NJIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; New Jersey Institute of Technology 1210/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; New Jersey Institute of Technology 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; NJIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; NJIT Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at NJIT (3.72).
  • NJIT has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 17.2% at NJIT.

BU vs. NJIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and NJIT? 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology's (54%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than NJIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $67,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New Jersey Institute of Technology graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($23,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NJIT graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($237 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NJIT students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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.