BU vs. Northeastern

Deciding between Boston University and Northeastern 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
Northeastern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Northeastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Northeastern 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Northeastern $288

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Northeastern 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Northeastern 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Northeastern based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 32,553 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

BU vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Northeastern? 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 Northeastern ($24,420 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 2.9% lower than at Northeastern University ($19,020 vs. $19,580).
  • Boston University is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $1,940 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at BU than at Northeastern University (about $1,940 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Boston University (66% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 22.7% larger than aid received by Northeastern University students ($61,848 vs. $50,421).

BU vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 10 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

BU vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Northeastern? 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston University graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, BU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($279 vs. $288).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

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.