George Washington vs. BU

Should I go to George Washington University or Boston University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if George Washington or BU 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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George Washington University vs. Boston University comparison
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Overview

George Washington BU
Location Washington, DC Boston, MA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 25,939 36,714
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #73 #79
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gwu.edu bu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

George Washington BU
Tuition (In State) $62,110 $61,050
Tuition (Out of State) $62,110 $61,050
Room & Board $15,720 $17,400
Avg Net Price $42,723 $27,829
Avg Grant Aid $35,257 $51,565
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 48%

Admission

George Washington BU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,266 80,796
Admitted 13,354 11,607
Acceptance Rate 49% 14.4%
Enrolled % 22% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.79
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 31/34 31/34
SAT Range 1330/1490 1350/1500
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 5, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

George Washington BU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

George Washington BU
Graduation Rate 81% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,500 $72,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,962 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

George Washington BU
% Men 38% 43%
% Women 62% 57%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 43%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 10% 20%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

George Washington BU
% In-State 1% 14%
% Out-of-State 89% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than George Washington based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 25,939 students)

George Washington vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or BU?

  • George Washington University is 1.7% more expensive to attend than BU for in-state tuition ($62,110.00 vs. $61,050.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at George Washington than Boston University ($62,110.00 vs. $61,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than George Washington ($27,829 vs. $42,723)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Washington University are 10.7% lower than costs at Boston University ($15,720 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Washington University than Boston University (78% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 46.3% larger than aid received George Washington University ($51,565 vs. $35,257)

George Washington vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 9 points higher than at George Washington (1294)
  • Incoming George Washington students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at BU (29)
  • Accepted freshman George Washington students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at BU (3.79)
  • George Washington has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than BU (14.4%)

George Washington vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, George Washington or BU? 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 BU and George Washington.

  • The graduation rate at BU is higher than George Washington University (85% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn on average $8,500 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($80,500 vs. $72,000)
  • George Washington University students graduate with a $2,038 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($24,962 vs. $27,000)
  • George Washington graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former George Washington students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 82%)

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