BU vs. St Lawrence University

Deciding between Boston University and St Lawrence 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
St Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • St Lawrence University Canton, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • St Lawrence University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • St Lawrence University 1,991
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • St Lawrence University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • St Lawrence University #145
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • St Lawrence University -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • St Lawrence University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • St Lawrence University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • St Lawrence University $65,900
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • St Lawrence University $65,900
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • St Lawrence University $17,000
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • St Lawrence University $33,216
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • St Lawrence University $48,784
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • St Lawrence University 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • St Lawrence University 6,089
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • St Lawrence University 3,309
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • St Lawrence University 54.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • St Lawrence University 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • St Lawrence University 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • St Lawrence University 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • St Lawrence University 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • St Lawrence University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • St Lawrence University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • St Lawrence University Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • St Lawrence University 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • St Lawrence University 1255/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • St Lawrence University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • St Lawrence University Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • St Lawrence University 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • St Lawrence University
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • St Lawrence University 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • St Lawrence University $53,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • St Lawrence University 85%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • St Lawrence University $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • St Lawrence University $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • St Lawrence University 48%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • St Lawrence University 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • St Lawrence University Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • St Lawrence University No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • St Lawrence University 79%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • St Lawrence University 2%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • St Lawrence University 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • St Lawrence University 5%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • St Lawrence University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • St Lawrence University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • St Lawrence University 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • St Lawrence University 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • St Lawrence University 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • St Lawrence University 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • St Lawrence University 50%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than St Lawrence University based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,991 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); St Lawrence University is in Canton, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; St Lawrence University 11:1.

BU vs. St Lawrence University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or St Lawrence University? 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 St Lawrence University ($24,420 vs. $33,216).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Lawrence University are 10.6% lower than at Boston University ($17,000 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Lawrence University (about $2,202 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,900.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at BU than at St Lawrence University (about $2,202 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,900.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Lawrence University than at Boston University (99% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 26.8% larger than aid received by St Lawrence University students ($61,848 vs. $48,784).

BU vs. St Lawrence University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or St Lawrence University? 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 St Lawrence University and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 140 points higher than at St Lawrence University (1340).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at St Lawrence University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; St Lawrence University 1255/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; St Lawrence University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; St Lawrence University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; St Lawrence University Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at St Lawrence University (3.6).
  • St Lawrence University has a higher acceptance rate (54.3%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 12.8% at St Lawrence University.

BU vs. St Lawrence University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and St Lawrence University? 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 St Lawrence University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than St Lawrence University graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $53,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, St Lawrence University and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, St Lawrence University and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More St Lawrence University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.