Northwestern vs. BU

Deciding between Northwestern University and Boston University? 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.

Northwestern University
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Northwestern Small City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern #15
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern 53%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern 1540
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern 34
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern 94%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern 87%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern $200
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern 45%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern 55%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Northwestern 50%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern 17%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern 12%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Northwestern 8%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern 2%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern 19%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern 66%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern University in Evanston, IL with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 23,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL (Small City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern University 6:1; Boston University 10:1.

Northwestern vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or BU? 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 Northwestern ($24,420 vs. $26,830).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 10% lower than at Northwestern University ($19,020 vs. $21,126).
  • Northwestern University is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $220 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Northwestern than at Boston University (about $220 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern University than at Boston University (53% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 4.2% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($64,429 vs. $61,848).

Northwestern vs. BU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 60 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Northwestern 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: Northwestern University 1510/1570; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 33/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northwestern Jan 1, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.3% at Northwestern vs. 37.4% at BU.

Northwestern vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern and BU? 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).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $7,622 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,378 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.