BU vs. Colgate

Deciding between Boston University and Colgate 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
Colgate University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Colgate #30
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Colgate -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Colgate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Colgate $58,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Colgate 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Colgate 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Colgate 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Colgate A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Colgate Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Colgate 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Colgate 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Colgate $166

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Colgate 43%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Colgate 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Colgate Medium
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Colgate No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Colgate 67%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Colgate 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Colgate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Colgate 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Colgate 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Colgate 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Colgate 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Colgate 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Colgate based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Colgate University is in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Colgate University 9:1.

BU vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Colgate? 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 Colgate ($24,420 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 7.4% lower than at Boston University ($17,610 vs. $19,020).
  • Colgate University is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,204 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Colgate than at Boston University (about $2,204 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Colgate University (49% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 6% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($61,848 vs. $58,334).

BU vs. Colgate Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 10 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming BU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at Colgate (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Colgate University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Colgate University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Colgate - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 28.7% at Colgate.

BU vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Colgate? 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $10,875 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($16,125 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($166 vs. $279).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.