BU vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Boston University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than BU based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 37,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

BU vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than BU ($20,522 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 17.4% lower than at Boston University ($15,714 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 279.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $50,173 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.9% higher at BU than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $30,661 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Boston University (50% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 269.4% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($61,848 vs. $16,742).

BU vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 70 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

BU vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 68%)

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.