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Northeastern BC UCLA UCSD NYU UCSB UC Davis Babson UC Riverside Tufts UCSC UMass| Boston University | University of California Irvine | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BU | UCI | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Irvine, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 36,624 | 36,582 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #77 | #93 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | uci.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | UCI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,798 | $11,834 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,798 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,110 | $18,423 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,551 | $14,647 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,080 | $21,533 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 65% |
Admission |
BU | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 80,495 | 121,101 | ||
| Admitted | 8,733 | 30,962 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 25.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36% | 21.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 26/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1400/1520 | 1230/1430 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 4, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
BU | UCI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BU | UCI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $61,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $17,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $175 |
Diversity |
BU | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 15% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 25% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 20% | 16% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
BU | UCI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 8% | ||
Campus |
BU | UCI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than UCI based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 36,582 students)
BU vs. UCI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or UCI?
- Boston University is 439.1% more expensive to attend than UCI for in-state tuition ($63,798.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 49.7% higher at BU than University of California Irvine ($63,798.00 vs. $42,611.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than BU ($14,647 vs. $27,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 1.7% lower than costs at University of California Irvine ($18,110 vs. $18,423)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Irvine than Boston University (65% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 155.8% larger than aid received University of California Irvine ($55,080 vs. $21,533)
BU vs. UCI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU or UCI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UCI or BU .
- The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 128 points higher than at UCI (1175)
- Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UCI (27)
- Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UCI (3.75)
- UCI has a higher acceptance rate (25.6%) than BU (10.8%)
BU vs. UCI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU or UCI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UCI and BU.
- The graduation rate at BU is the same as at University of California Irvine (85% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Boston University earn on average $10,200 more per year than UCI graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $61,800)
- University of California Irvine students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $27,000)
- UCI graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($175 vs. $279)
- More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/