BU vs. BYU

Deciding between Boston University and Brigham Young 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.

Boston University
Brigham Young University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • BYU Provo, UT
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • BYU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • BYU 35,873
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • BYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • BYU #131
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • BYU Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church)
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • BYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • BYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • BYU $6,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • BYU $6,688
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • BYU $10,396
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • BYU $16,694
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • BYU $6,088
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • BYU 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • BYU 11,698
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • BYU 7,929
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • BYU 67.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • BYU 77.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • BYU 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • BYU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • BYU 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • BYU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • BYU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • BYU Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • BYU 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • BYU 1270/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • BYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • BYU Dec 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • BYU 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • BYU
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • BYU 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • BYU $69,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • BYU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • BYU $11,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • BYU $113

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • BYU 49%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • BYU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • BYU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • BYU No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • BYU 83%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • BYU 2%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • BYU 6%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • BYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • BYU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • BYU 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • BYU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • BYU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • BYU 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • BYU 59%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Brigham Young University in Provo, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than BYU based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 35,873 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Brigham Young University is in Provo, UT (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brigham Young University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Brigham Young University 21:1.

BU vs. BYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or BYU? 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 Brigham Young University than BU ($16,694 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brigham Young University are 45.3% lower than at Boston University ($10,396 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 918.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BYU (about $61,414 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 918.3% higher at BU than at Brigham Young University (about $61,414 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $6,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brigham Young University than at Boston University (51% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 915.9% larger than aid received by Brigham Young University students ($61,848 vs. $6,088).

BU vs. BYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or BYU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BYU and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 110 points higher than at BYU (1370).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (33 vs. 30 at BYU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Boston University 1420/1530; Brigham Young University 1270/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Boston University 32/34; Brigham Young University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; BYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; BYU Dec 16, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman BYU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BYU has a higher acceptance rate (67.8%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 77.5% at BYU.

BU vs. BYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and BYU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Brigham Young University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than BYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $69,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brigham Young University graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($11,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BYU graduates have an estimated $166 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($113 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BYU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.