Colby College vs. BU

Deciding between Colby College and Boston University? 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.

Colby College
Boston University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colby College Waterville, ME
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Colby College Remote Town
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colby College 2,412
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Colby College Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colby College #39
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colby College -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Colby College Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colby College
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colby College $69,600
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Colby College $17,890
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Colby College $16,219
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colby College $69,201
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colby College 45%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colby College 19,187
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Colby College 1,360
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colby College 7.1%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Colby College 46.2%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colby College 1510
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colby College 33
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colby College 3.86
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colby College A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colby College Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colby College Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Colby College 32/34
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Colby College 1460/1550
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colby College Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colby College Jan 1, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colby College 9:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colby College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colby College 91%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colby College $73,400
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colby College 88%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colby College $19,345
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colby College $200
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colby College 49%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Colby College 51%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colby College Medium
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colby College No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Colby College 62%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Colby College 6%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Colby College 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colby College 6%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Colby College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colby College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colby College 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Colby College 11%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colby College 7%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colby College 8%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colby College 76%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Colby College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colby College is located in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby College 9:1; Boston University 10:1.

Colby College vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or BU? 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 Colby College than BU ($16,219 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 5.9% lower than at Boston University ($17,890 vs. $19,020).
  • Colby College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $1,498 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Colby College than at Boston University (about $1,498 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Colby College (49% vs. 45%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 11.9% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($69,201 vs. $61,848).

Colby College vs. BU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colby College (1510) is 30 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Colby College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 33) as students at BU (33).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 1460/1550; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colby College 32/34; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby College - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colby College Jan 1, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Colby College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.2% at Colby College vs. 37.4% at BU.

Colby College vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby College and BU? 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).

  • Colby College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Colby College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,400 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby College graduates have a $7,655 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,345 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colby College graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More Colby College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.