BU vs. Siena College

Deciding between Boston University and Siena 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
Siena College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Siena College Loudonville, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Siena College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Siena College 3,720
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Siena College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Siena College #240
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Siena College Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Siena College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Siena College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Siena College $46,580
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Siena College $46,580
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Siena College $17,085
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Siena College $32,955
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Siena College $31,915
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Siena College 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Siena College 9,279
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Siena College 6,404
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Siena College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Siena College 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Siena College 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Siena College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Siena College 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Siena College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Siena College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Siena College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Siena College 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Siena College 1110/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Siena College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Siena College Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Siena College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Siena College
    • Business (44%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Siena College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Siena College $59,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Siena College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Siena College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Siena College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Siena College 46%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Siena College 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Siena College Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Siena College No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Siena College 80%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Siena College 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Siena College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Siena College 7%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Siena College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Siena College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Siena College 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Siena College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Siena College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Siena College 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Siena College 15%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Siena College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,720 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Siena College is in Loudonville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Siena College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Siena College 12:1.

BU vs. Siena College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Siena College? 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 Siena College ($24,420 vs. $32,955).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Siena College are 10.2% lower than at Boston University ($17,085 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 46.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Siena College (about $21,522 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $46,580.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.2% higher at BU than at Siena College (about $21,522 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $46,580.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Siena College than at Boston University (97% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 93.8% larger than aid received by Siena College students ($61,848 vs. $31,915).

BU vs. Siena College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 240 points higher than at Siena College (1240).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Siena College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Siena College 1110/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Siena College 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Siena College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Siena College Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Siena College (3.53).
  • Siena College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 11.9% at Siena College.

BU vs. Siena College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Siena College? 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 Siena College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Siena College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Siena College and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Siena College and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Siena College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.