BU vs. Hunter

Deciding between Boston University and CUNY Hunter 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

BU vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than BU ($4,431 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 37.8% lower than at Boston University ($11,832 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 822.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $60,720 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 344.2% higher at BU than at CUNY Hunter College (about $52,770 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Boston University (87% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 534% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($61,848 vs. $9,755).

BU vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 220 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

BU vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Hunter? 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).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $23,200 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,452 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($11,548 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($119 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 56%)

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.