BU vs. Wellesley

Deciding between Boston University and Wellesley College? 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
Wellesley College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Wellesley #18
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Wellesley -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Wellesley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Wellesley 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Wellesley 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Wellesley A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Wellesley Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Wellesley $92

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Wellesley 2%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Wellesley Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Wellesley No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Wellesley 40%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Wellesley 23%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Wellesley 11%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Wellesley 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Wellesley 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Wellesley College is in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Wellesley College 7:1.

BU vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Wellesley? 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 Wellesley College than BU ($22,174 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 9.5% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,020 vs. $21,024).
  • Boston University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $926 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at BU than at Wellesley College (about $926 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Boston University (54% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($64,116 vs. $61,848).

BU vs. Wellesley Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 30 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Wellesley students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Wellesley College 1460/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Wellesley College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Wellesley - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 47.6% at Wellesley.

BU vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Wellesley? 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $18,100 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($8,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $187 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($92 vs. $279).
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.