Amherst vs. BU

Deciding between Amherst College 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.

Amherst College
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Boston University 10:1.

Amherst vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than BU ($19,049 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 3.3% lower than at Boston University ($18,390 vs. $19,020).
  • Amherst College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,378 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Amherst than at Boston University (about $2,378 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Boston University (59% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 10.9% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($68,591 vs. $61,848).

Amherst vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 60 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Amherst 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: Amherst College 1490/1580; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 37.4% at BU.

Amherst vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $14,025 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($12,975 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($134 vs. $279).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.