USC vs. BU

Deciding between University of Southern California 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 Southern California
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than BU based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 37,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Boston University 10:1.

USC vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 USC ($24,420 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 4.6% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,020 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $3,995 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at USC than at Boston University (about $3,995 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Boston University (70% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 31.9% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($61,848 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Southern California (1500) is 20 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming USC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at BU (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than USC (9.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 37.4% at BU.

USC vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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).

  • University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $4,625 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,375 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($231 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.