BU vs. Penn State York

Deciding between Boston University and Penn State York? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Penn State York York, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Penn State York Midsize Suburban
  • Enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Penn State York 677
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Penn State York
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Penn State York -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Penn State York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Penn State York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Penn State York $15,208
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Penn State York $25,392
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Penn State York $15,274
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Penn State York $18,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Penn State York $8,756
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Penn State York 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Penn State York 1,933
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Penn State York 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Penn State York 97.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Penn State York 10.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Penn State York 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Penn State York 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Penn State York -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Penn State York -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Penn State York Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Penn State York
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Penn State York 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Penn State York 1050/1245
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Penn State York Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Penn State York

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Penn State York 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Penn State York
    • Business (32%)
    • Work and Family Studies (24%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Penn State York 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Penn State York $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Penn State York 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Penn State York $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Penn State York $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 22%
  • Penn State York 0%
  • % Women
  • BU 29%
  • Penn State York 0%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Penn State York Medium
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Penn State York No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Penn State York 63%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Penn State York 5%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Penn State York 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Penn State York 6%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Penn State York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Penn State York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Penn State York 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Penn State York 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Penn State York 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Penn State York 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Penn State York 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Penn State York based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 677 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Penn State York is in York, PA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State York is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Penn State York 14:1.

BU vs. Penn State York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Penn State York? 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 Penn State York than BU ($18,887 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State York are 19.7% lower than at Boston University ($15,274 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 347.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State York (about $52,894 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $15,208.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 168.2% higher at BU than at Penn State York (about $42,710 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $25,392.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State York than at Boston University (80% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 606.3% larger than aid received by Penn State York students ($61,848 vs. $8,756).

BU vs. Penn State York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Penn State York? 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 Penn State York and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 330 points higher than at Penn State York (1150).
  • Incoming BU students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 25 at Penn State York).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Penn State York 1050/1245.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Penn State York 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State York - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Penn State York has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 10.7% at Penn State York.

BU vs. Penn State York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Penn State York? 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 Penn State York's (45%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than Penn State York graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State York graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State York graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State York 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.