BU vs. Harvard

Deciding between Boston University and Harvard 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
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Harvard University 7:1.

BU vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than BU ($17,525 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 10.2% lower than at Harvard University ($19,020 vs. $21,190).
  • Boston University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,426 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at BU than at Harvard University (about $6,426 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Boston University (56% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 10% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($68,015 vs. $61,848).

BU vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 70 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

BU vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Harvard? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $64,700 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 70%)

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.