BU vs. F&M

Deciding between Boston University and Franklin and Marshall 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

BU vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or F&M? 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 F&M ($24,420 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 14.9% lower than at Boston University ($16,188 vs. $19,020).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,692 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at F&M than at Boston University (about $2,692 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Boston University (80% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 47.6% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($61,848 vs. $41,901).

BU vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or F&M? 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 F&M and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 90 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 17.1% at F&M.

BU vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and F&M? 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).

  • The graduation rate at BU is the same as at Franklin and Marshall College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.