Miami vs. BU

Deciding between University of Miami 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.

University of Miami
Boston University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Miami Coral Gables, FL
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Miami Large Suburban
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Miami 19,852
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Miami Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Miami #52
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Miami -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Miami Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Miami
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Miami $62,616
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Miami $62,616
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Miami $23,790
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Miami $45,397
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Miami $40,992
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Miami 79%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Miami 53,954
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Miami 10,195
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Miami 18.9%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Miami 24.3%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Miami 1400
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Miami 31
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Miami 3.7
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Miami A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Miami Exceptional
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Miami Very High
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Miami 30/33
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Miami 1320/1480
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Miami Required
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Miami Jan 1, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Miami 11:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Miami
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Miami 78%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Miami $70,200
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Miami 75%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Miami $19,846
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Miami $205
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Miami 45%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Miami 55%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Miami Very High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Miami No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Miami 42%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Miami 6%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Miami 8%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Miami 22%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Miami 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Miami 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Miami 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Miami 14%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Miami 5%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Miami 28%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Miami 63%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Miami based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 19,852 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, FL (Large Suburban setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Miami is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Miami 11:1; Boston University 10:1.

Miami vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami 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 Miami ($24,420 vs. $45,397).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 20.1% lower than at University of Miami ($19,020 vs. $23,790).
  • Boston University is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Miami (about $5,486 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,616.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at BU than at University of Miami (about $5,486 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,616.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Miami than at Boston University (79% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 50.9% larger than aid received by University of Miami students ($61,848 vs. $40,992).

Miami vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Miami 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 Miami.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 80 points higher than at Miami (1400).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Miami).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Miami 1320/1480; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Miami 30/33; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Miami - Required; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Miami Jan 1, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Miami (3.7).
  • Miami has a higher acceptance rate (18.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.3% at Miami vs. 37.4% at BU.

Miami vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Miami 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).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Miami's (78%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $70,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Miami graduates have a $7,154 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,846 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Miami graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($205 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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.