BU vs. WUSTL

Should I go to Boston University or Washington University in St Louis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or WUSTL 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. Washington University in St Louis comparison
Boston University Washington University in St Louis College 3 College 4
Boston University Washington University in St Louis
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Overview

BU WUSTL
Location Boston, MA Saint Louis, MO
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 36,714 17,012
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #20
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu wustl.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU WUSTL
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $59,420
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $59,420
Room & Board $17,400 $18,470
Avg Net Price $27,829 $23,432
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $58,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 43%

Admission

BU WUSTL
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 32,014
Admitted 11,607 3,764
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 11.8%
Enrolled % 31.3% 48.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.92
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 33/35
SAT Range 1350/1500 1500/1570
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 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

BU WUSTL
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

BU WUSTL
Graduation Rate 85% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $82,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,900
Median Loan Payment $279 $205

Diversity

BU WUSTL
% Men 43% 47%
% Women 57% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 55%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 20% 8%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

BU WUSTL
% In-State 14% 12%
% Out-of-State 61% 77%

Campus

BU WUSTL
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 17,012 students)

BU vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or WUSTL ?

  • Boston University is 2.7% more expensive to attend than WUSTL for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at BU than Washington University in St Louis ($61,050.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington University in St Louis than BU ($23,432 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 6.1% lower than costs at Washington University in St Louis ($17,400 vs. $18,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than Washington University in St Louis (48% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 12.8% larger than aid received Boston University ($58,188 vs. $51,565)

BU vs. WUSTL Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Washington University in St Louis (1469) is 166 points higher than at BU (1303)
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at BU (29)
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at BU (3.79)
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (14.4%) than WUSTL (11.8%)

BU vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or WUSTL ? 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 WUSTL and BU.

  • The graduation rate at WUSTL is higher than Boston University (93% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn on average $10,800 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($82,800 vs. $72,000)
  • Washington University in St Louis students graduate with a $7,100 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($19,900 vs. $27,000)
  • WUSTL graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($205 vs. $279)
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 82%)

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