BU vs. UVM

Deciding between Boston University and University of Vermont? 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
University of Vermont

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • UVM 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • UVM 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • UVM $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • UVM 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • UVM $22,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • UVM $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with University of Vermont in Burlington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than UVM based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 14,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); University of Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

BU vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or UVM? 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 University of Vermont than BU ($20,084 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 27.6% lower than at Boston University ($13,776 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 257.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $49,044 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.7% higher at BU than at University of Vermont (about $22,600 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $45,502.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Boston University (93% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 210.8% larger than aid received by University of Vermont students ($61,848 vs. $19,897).

BU vs. UVM Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 110 points higher than at UVM (1370).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UVM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; University of Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UVM (3.75).
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 15.8% at UVM.

BU vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and UVM? 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 University of Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than UVM graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $4,700 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,300 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($230 vs. $279).
  • More UVM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.