Bentley vs. BU

Deciding between Bentley 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.

Bentley University
Boston University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bentley $274
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, 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 Bentley based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 5,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Boston University 10:1.

Bentley vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley 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 Bentley ($24,420 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 5.6% lower than at Bentley University ($19,020 vs. $20,140).
  • Boston University is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $7,102 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at BU than at Bentley University (about $7,102 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Boston University (88% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 83.7% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($61,848 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley 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 Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 120 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming BU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Bentley (3.75).
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 37.4% at BU.

Bentley vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley 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).

  • Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.