BU vs. Middlebury

Deciding between Boston University and Middlebury 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
Middlebury College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Middlebury Middlebury, VT
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Middlebury Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Middlebury 2,803
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Middlebury Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Middlebury #24
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Middlebury -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Middlebury Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Middlebury

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Middlebury $19,250
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Middlebury $26,233
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Middlebury $59,647
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Middlebury 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Middlebury 12,540
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Middlebury 1,348
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Middlebury 10.7%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Middlebury 44.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Middlebury 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Middlebury 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Middlebury 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Middlebury A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Middlebury Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Middlebury Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Middlebury 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Middlebury 1445/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Middlebury Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Middlebury Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Middlebury 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Middlebury
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Middlebury 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Middlebury $72,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Middlebury 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Middlebury $15,889
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Middlebury $164

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Middlebury 46%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Middlebury 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Middlebury Medium
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Middlebury No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Middlebury 65%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Middlebury 6%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Middlebury 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Middlebury 9%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Middlebury 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Middlebury 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Middlebury 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Middlebury based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

BU vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Middlebury? 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 Middlebury ($24,420 vs. $26,233).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 1.2% lower than at Middlebury College ($19,020 vs. $19,250).
  • Boston University is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Middlebury (about $502 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,600.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at BU than at Middlebury College (about $502 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,600.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Middlebury College (49% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Middlebury College students ($61,848 vs. $59,647).

BU vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Middlebury College (1500) is 20 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Middlebury students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Middlebury College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Middlebury students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Middlebury (10.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

BU vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Middlebury? 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).

  • Middlebury College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Middlebury College earn a median of about $400 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,400 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $11,111 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,889 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($164 vs. $279).
  • More Middlebury 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.