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Northeastern BC NYU RIT Stevens Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Binghamton University Lehigh Colgate| Boston University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BU | RPI | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Troy, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,624 | 7,024 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #77 | #124 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | rpi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | RPI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,798 | $60,360 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,798 | $60,360 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,110 | $17,530 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,551 | $35,940 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,080 | $43,994 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 96% |
Admission |
BU | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,495 | 16,283 | ||
| Admitted | 8,733 | 9,517 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 58.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36% | 16.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1400/1520 | 1330/1500 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 4, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
BU | RPI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BU | RPI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 84% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $82,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $284 |
Diversity |
BU | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 20% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
BU | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 58% | ||
Campus |
BU | RPI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 7,024 students)
BU vs. RPI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or RPI?
- Boston University is 5.7% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($63,798.00 vs. $60,360.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.7% higher at BU than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,798.00 vs. $60,360.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than RPI ($27,551 vs. $35,940)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 3.3% lower than costs at Boston University ($17,530 vs. $18,110)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Boston University (96% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 25.2% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($55,080 vs. $43,994)
BU vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or BU .
- The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 65 points higher than at BU (1303)
- Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at BU (29)
- Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at BU (3.79)
- RPI has a higher acceptance rate (58.4%) than BU (10.8%)
BU vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and BU.
- The graduation rate at BU is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (85% vs. 84%)
- Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $10,500 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $72,000)
- Boston University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
- BU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
- More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/