BU vs. Smith College

Deciding between Boston University and Smith 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
Smith College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Smith College Northampton, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Smith College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Smith College 2,857
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Smith College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Smith College #68
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Smith College -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Smith College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Smith College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Smith College $65,178
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Smith College $22,570
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Smith College $27,305
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Smith College $58,725
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Smith College 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Smith College 8,666
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Smith College 1,820
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Smith College 21%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Smith College 35.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Smith College 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Smith College 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Smith College 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Smith College A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Smith College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Smith College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Smith College 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Smith College 1420/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Smith College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Smith College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Smith College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Smith College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Smith College 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Smith College $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Smith College 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Smith College $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Smith College $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Smith College 2%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Smith College 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Smith College High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Smith College No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Smith College 45%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Smith College 12%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Smith College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Smith College 10%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Smith College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Smith College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Smith College 5%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Smith College 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Smith College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Smith College 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Smith College 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Smith College in Northampton, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Smith College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Smith College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Smith College? 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 Smith College ($24,420 vs. $27,305).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 15.7% lower than at Smith College ($19,020 vs. $22,570).
  • Boston University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Smith College (about $2,924 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at BU than at Smith College (about $2,924 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Smith College than at Boston University (67% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 5.3% larger than aid received by Smith College students ($61,848 vs. $58,725).

BU vs. Smith College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is the same as at Smith College (1480).
  • Incoming BU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at Smith College (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Smith College 1420/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Smith College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Smith College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Smith College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Smith College has a higher acceptance rate (21%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 35.4% at Smith College.

BU vs. Smith College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Smith College? 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 Smith College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $23,100 more per year than Smith College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Smith College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Smith College graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.