BU vs. NYU

Deciding between Boston University and New York 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than BU based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 37,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; New York University 8:1.

BU vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or NYU? 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 NYU ($24,420 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 19.2% lower than at New York University ($19,020 vs. $23,530).
  • Boston University is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $5,306 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at BU than at New York University (about $5,306 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at New York University (49% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 14.7% larger than aid received by New York University students ($61,848 vs. $53,901).

BU vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 40 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have the same average high school GPA (3.79) as students at NYU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 55.4% at NYU.

BU vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and NYU? 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.