BU vs. Bryn Mawr

Deciding between Boston University and Bryn Mawr 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
Bryn Mawr College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Bryn Mawr Bryn Mawr, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Bryn Mawr Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Bryn Mawr 1,679
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Bryn Mawr Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Bryn Mawr #83
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Bryn Mawr -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Bryn Mawr Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Bryn Mawr

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Bryn Mawr $19,400
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Bryn Mawr $33,221
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Bryn Mawr $50,029
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Bryn Mawr 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Bryn Mawr 4,094
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Bryn Mawr 1,205
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Bryn Mawr 29.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Bryn Mawr 31.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Bryn Mawr 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Bryn Mawr 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Bryn Mawr 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Bryn Mawr A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Bryn Mawr Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Bryn Mawr High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Bryn Mawr 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Bryn Mawr 1280/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Bryn Mawr Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Bryn Mawr 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Bryn Mawr
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Foreign Languages (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Bryn Mawr 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Bryn Mawr $61,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Bryn Mawr 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Bryn Mawr $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Bryn Mawr $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Bryn Mawr 4%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Bryn Mawr 96%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Bryn Mawr Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Bryn Mawr No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Bryn Mawr 36%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Bryn Mawr 12%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Bryn Mawr 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Bryn Mawr 9%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Bryn Mawr 5%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Bryn Mawr 23%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Bryn Mawr 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Bryn Mawr 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Bryn Mawr 76%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Bryn Mawr College is in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Bryn Mawr College 8:1.

BU vs. Bryn Mawr Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr ($24,420 vs. $33,221).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 2% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($19,020 vs. $19,400).
  • Boston University is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bryn Mawr (about $2,182 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,920.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at BU than at Bryn Mawr College (about $2,182 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,920.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Boston University (72% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($61,848 vs. $50,029).

BU vs. Bryn Mawr Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 80 points higher than at Bryn Mawr (1400).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Bryn Mawr).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Bryn Mawr College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Bryn Mawr - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bryn Mawr students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Bryn Mawr has a higher acceptance rate (29.4%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 31.5% at Bryn Mawr.

BU vs. Bryn Mawr Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Bryn Mawr? 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).

  • Bryn Mawr College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Bryn Mawr graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $61,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bryn Mawr College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bryn Mawr graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

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.