Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northeastern BC NYU Babson Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Vassar| Colby College | Boston University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Colby College | BU | ||
| Location | Waterville, ME | Boston, MA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,299 | 36,714 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #44 | #79 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colby.edu | bu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colby College | BU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,840 | $61,050 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,840 | $61,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,330 | $17,400 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,951 | $27,829 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,714 | $51,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 41% | 48% |
Admission |
Colby College | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,890 | 80,796 | ||
| Admitted | 1,286 | 11,607 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.6% | 14.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 52.3% | 31.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.79 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1430/1540 | 1350/1500 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 4, 2024 |
Academics |
Colby College | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Colby College | BU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $73,400 | $72,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,345 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $279 |
Diversity |
Colby College | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 11% | 20% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 5% |
Students |
Colby College | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 7% | 14% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 79% | 61% | ||
Campus |
Colby College | BU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 2,299 students)
Colby College vs. BU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colby College or BU?
- Boston University is 0.3% more expensive to attend than Colby College for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $60,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.3% higher at BU than Colby College ($61,050.00 vs. $60,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than BU ($16,951 vs. $27,829)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 6.6% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,330 vs. $17,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than Colby College (48% vs. 41%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 19.7% larger than aid received Boston University ($61,714 vs. $51,565)
Colby College vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or BU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BU or Colby College .
- The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 60 points higher than at BU (1303)
- Incoming Colby College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at BU (29)
- Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BU (3.79)
- BU has a higher acceptance rate (14.4%) than Colby College (7.6%)
Colby College vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colby College or BU? 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 BU and Colby College.
- The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Boston University (91% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Colby College earn on average $1,400 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $72,000)
- Colby College students graduate with a $7,655 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,000)
- Colby College graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
- More Colby College 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/