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Northeastern BC NYU UChicago Babson Notre Dame Duke Vanderbilt WUSTL Johns Hopkins Tufts Cornell| Northwestern University | Boston University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northwestern | BU | ||
| Location | Evanston, IL | Boston, MA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,161 | 36,714 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #15 | #79 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northwestern.edu | bu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern | BU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,391 | $61,050 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,391 | $61,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,440 | $17,400 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,095 | $27,829 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,716 | $51,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 48% |
Admission |
Northwestern | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 51,261 | 80,796 | ||
| Admitted | 3,695 | 11,607 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.2% | 14.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 55.2% | 31.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.92 | 3.79 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 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 1, 2025 | Jan 4, 2025 |
Academics |
Northwestern | BU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northwestern | BU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 94% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,800 | $72,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,378 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northwestern | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 8% | 20% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Northwestern | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 14% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 61% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern | BU | ||
| 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 Northwestern based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 23,161 students)
Northwestern vs. BU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or BU?
- Northwestern University is 2.2% more expensive to attend than BU for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $61,050.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Northwestern than Boston University ($62,391.00 vs. $61,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than BU ($22,095 vs. $27,829)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 11.7% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($17,400 vs. $19,440)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern University than Boston University (50% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 19.7% larger than aid received Boston University ($61,716 vs. $51,565)
Northwestern vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or BU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BU or Northwestern .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 157 points higher than at BU (1303)
- Incoming Northwestern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at BU (29)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern 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 Northwestern (7.2%)
Northwestern vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern 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 Northwestern.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Boston University (94% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $17,800 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $72,000)
- Northwestern University students graduate with a $7,622 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($19,378 vs. $27,000)
- Northwestern graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
- More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/