BU vs. Colgate

Should I go to Boston University or Colgate University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or Colgate is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Boston University vs. Colgate University comparison
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Boston University Colgate University
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Overview

BU Colgate
Location Boston, MA Hamilton, NY
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 36,624 3,146
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #77 #27
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu colgate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU Colgate
Tuition (In State) $63,798 $66,622
Tuition (Out of State) $63,798 $66,622
Room & Board $18,110 $16,790
Avg Net Price $27,551 $26,954
Avg Grant Aid $55,080 $56,696
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 43%

Admission

BU Colgate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,495 21,130
Admitted 8,733 2,526
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 12%
Enrolled % 36% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/34 33/34
SAT Range 1400/1520 1430/1530
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

BU Colgate
% Men 21% 0%
% Women 28% 0%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 67%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 20% 9%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

BU Colgate
% In-State 14% 22%
% Out-of-State 61% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 3,146 students)

BU vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Colgate?

  • Colgate University is 4.4% more expensive to attend than BU for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $63,798.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at Colgate than Boston University ($66,622.00 vs. $63,798.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than BU ($26,954 vs. $27,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 7.9% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,790 vs. $18,110)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than Colgate University (50% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 2.9% larger than aid received Boston University ($56,696 vs. $55,080)

BU vs. Colgate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Colgate? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Colgate or BU .

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 71 points higher than at BU (1303)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at BU (29)
  • 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 (12%) than BU (10.8%)

BU vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or Colgate? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Colgate and BU.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Boston University (92% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $3,300 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $72,000)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $10,875 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($16,125 vs. $27,000)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans 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/