BU vs. WUSTL

Deciding between Boston University and Washington University in St Louis? 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
Washington University in St Louis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • WUSTL #21
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • WUSTL -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • WUSTL

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • WUSTL 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • WUSTL 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • WUSTL A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • WUSTL Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • WUSTL $205

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • WUSTL 47%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • WUSTL High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • WUSTL No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • WUSTL 55%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • WUSTL 19%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • WUSTL 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • WUSTL 7%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • WUSTL 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • WUSTL 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • WUSTL 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • WUSTL 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • WUSTL 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 16,357 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Washington University in St Louis is in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Washington University in St Louis 7:1.

BU vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or WUSTL ? 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 Washington University in St Louis than BU ($22,408 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 13% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($19,020 vs. $21,854).
  • Boston University is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $2,312 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at BU than at Washington University in St Louis (about $2,312 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Boston University as at Washington University in St Louis (49% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 6.8% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($66,080 vs. $61,848).

BU vs. WUSTL Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 60 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming WUSTL 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; Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Washington University in St Louis 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; WUSTL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at BU (3.79).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 46.7% at WUSTL .

BU vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and WUSTL ? 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $7,100 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($205 vs. $279).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 82%)

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.