BU vs. Barnard

Deciding between Boston University and Barnard College? 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.

Boston University
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Barnard College 10:1.

BU vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($24,420 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 12.4% lower than at Barnard College ($19,020 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $1,786 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Barnard than at Boston University (about $1,786 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Barnard College (49% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 2.1% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($63,131 vs. $61,848).

BU vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 40 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming BU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at Barnard (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

BU vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Barnard? 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $9,153 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($17,847 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($184 vs. $279).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.