BU vs. SUNY Poly

Deciding between Boston University and SUNY Polytechnic Institute? 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
SUNY Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • SUNY Poly Utica, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • SUNY Poly Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • SUNY Poly 2,733
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Poly Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • SUNY Poly #327
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • SUNY Poly -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • SUNY Poly Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • SUNY Poly

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • SUNY Poly $8,625
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • SUNY Poly $21,215
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • SUNY Poly $16,584
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • SUNY Poly $14,782
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • SUNY Poly $8,357
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • SUNY Poly 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • SUNY Poly 5,329
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • SUNY Poly 4,335
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • SUNY Poly 81.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • SUNY Poly 8.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • SUNY Poly 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • SUNY Poly 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • SUNY Poly 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • SUNY Poly A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • SUNY Poly Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • SUNY Poly
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • SUNY Poly 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • SUNY Poly 1025/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • SUNY Poly Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • SUNY Poly 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • SUNY Poly
    • Business (24%)
    • Engineering Technology (20%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • SUNY Poly 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • SUNY Poly $53,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • SUNY Poly 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • SUNY Poly $16,585
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • SUNY Poly $171

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • SUNY Poly 57%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • SUNY Poly 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • SUNY Poly Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • SUNY Poly No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • SUNY Poly 79%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • SUNY Poly 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • SUNY Poly 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • SUNY Poly 7%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • SUNY Poly 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • SUNY Poly 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • SUNY Poly 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • SUNY Poly 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • SUNY Poly 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • SUNY Poly 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • SUNY Poly 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than SUNY Poly based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,733 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); SUNY Polytechnic Institute is in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

BU vs. SUNY Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than BU ($14,782 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 12.8% lower than at Boston University ($16,584 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 689.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $59,477 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $8,625.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 221% higher at BU than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $46,887 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $21,215.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Boston University (100% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 640.1% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($61,848 vs. $8,357).

BU vs. SUNY Poly Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 280 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
  • Incoming BU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at SUNY Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; SUNY Poly - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7).
  • SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 8.7% at SUNY Poly.

BU vs. SUNY Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $10,415 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($16,585 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Poly graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($171 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)

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.