BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston

Should I go to Boston University or University of Massachusetts Boston? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or University of Massachusetts-Boston is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Boston University vs. University of Massachusetts Boston comparison
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Boston University University of Massachusetts Boston
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Overview

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Location Boston, MA Boston, MA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 36,714 15,586
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #448
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu umb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $14,542
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $35,515
Room & Board $17,400 $16,896
Avg Net Price $27,829 $17,123
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $11,104
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 99%

Admission

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 19,512
Admitted 11,607 15,757
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 80.8%
Enrolled % 31.3% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.35
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34 24/29
SAT Range 1350/1500 1080/1300
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, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Graduation Rate 85% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $51,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,060
Median Loan Payment $279 $228

Diversity

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
% Men 43% 41%
% Women 57% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 36%
% Black 4% 16%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 20% 12%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
% In-State 14% 78%
% Out-of-State 61% 14%

Campus

BU University of Massachusetts-Boston
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than University of Massachusetts-Boston based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 15,586 students)

BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or University of Massachusetts-Boston?

  • Boston University is 319.8% more expensive to attend than University of Massachusetts-Boston for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $14,542.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.9% higher at BU than University of Massachusetts Boston ($61,050.00 vs. $35,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Boston than BU ($17,123 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Boston are 3% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,896 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Boston than Boston University (99% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 364.4% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Boston ($51,565 vs. $11,104)

BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or University of Massachusetts-Boston? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Massachusetts-Boston or BU .

  • The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 248 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (1055)
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at University of Massachusetts-Boston (3.35)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than BU (14.4%)

BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or University of Massachusetts-Boston? 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston and BU.

  • The graduation rate at BU is higher than University of Massachusetts Boston (85% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Boston University earn on average $20,800 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $51,200)
  • University of Massachusetts Boston students graduate with a $4,940 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($22,060 vs. $27,000)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Boston students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/