BU vs. Pratt Institute

Deciding between Boston University and Pratt Institute Main? 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
Pratt Institute Main

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Pratt Institute Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Pratt Institute 5,356
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Pratt Institute Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Pratt Institute #229
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Pratt Institute -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Pratt Institute Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Pratt Institute

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Pratt Institute $61,845
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Pratt Institute $61,845
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Pratt Institute $17,336
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Pratt Institute $54,150
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Pratt Institute $26,021
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Pratt Institute 78%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Pratt Institute 8,457
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Pratt Institute 6,195
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Pratt Institute 73.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Pratt Institute 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Pratt Institute 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Pratt Institute 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Pratt Institute 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Pratt Institute A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Pratt Institute Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Pratt Institute Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Pratt Institute 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Pratt Institute 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Pratt Institute Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Pratt Institute Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Pratt Institute 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Pratt Institute
    • Visual and Performing Arts (80%)
    • Architecture (14%)
    • English and Literature (3%)
    • Education (2%)
    • Business (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Pratt Institute 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Pratt Institute $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Pratt Institute 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Pratt Institute $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Pratt Institute $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Pratt Institute 28%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Pratt Institute 72%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Pratt Institute Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Pratt Institute No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Pratt Institute 40%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Pratt Institute 14%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Pratt Institute 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Pratt Institute 10%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Pratt Institute 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Pratt Institute 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Pratt Institute 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Pratt Institute 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Pratt Institute 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Pratt Institute 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Pratt Institute 52%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Pratt Institute Main in Brooklyn, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Pratt Institute based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 5,356 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Pratt Institute Main is in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pratt Institute Main is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Pratt Institute Main 9:1.

BU vs. Pratt Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Pratt Institute? 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 Pratt Institute ($24,420 vs. $54,150).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pratt Institute Main are 8.9% lower than at Boston University ($17,336 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pratt Institute (about $6,257 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,845.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at BU than at Pratt Institute Main (about $6,257 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $61,845.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pratt Institute Main than at Boston University (78% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 137.7% larger than aid received by Pratt Institute Main students ($61,848 vs. $26,021).

BU vs. Pratt Institute Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 210 points higher than at Pratt Institute (1270).
  • Incoming BU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Pratt Institute).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Pratt Institute Main 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Pratt Institute Main 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Pratt Institute - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Pratt Institute Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pratt Institute students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Pratt Institute has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 18.3% at Pratt Institute.

BU vs. Pratt Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Pratt Institute? 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 Pratt Institute Main's (62%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $22,800 more per year than Pratt Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pratt Institute Main graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($26,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pratt Institute graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pratt Institute students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.