Trinity College vs. BU

Deciding between Trinity 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.

Trinity College
Boston University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Trinity College Hartford, CT
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Trinity College Midsize City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Trinity College 2,238
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Trinity College Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Trinity College #47
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Trinity College -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Trinity College Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Trinity College
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Trinity College $18,890
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Trinity College $36,071
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Trinity College $51,754
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Trinity College 73%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Trinity College 7,460
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Trinity College 2,182
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Trinity College 29.2%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Trinity College 24.8%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Trinity College 1380
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Trinity College 32
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Trinity College 3.8
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Trinity College A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Trinity College Exceptional
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Trinity College High
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Trinity College 30/34
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Trinity College 1298/1470
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Trinity College Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Trinity College Jan 17, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Trinity College 9:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Trinity College
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Trinity College 86%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Trinity College $71,500
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Trinity College 81%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Trinity College $21,000
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Trinity College $217
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Trinity College 47%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Trinity College 53%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Trinity College Medium
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Trinity College No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Trinity College 65%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Trinity College 4%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Trinity College 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Trinity College 7%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Trinity College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Trinity College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Trinity College 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Trinity College 10%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Trinity College 5%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Trinity College 15%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Trinity College 73%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Trinity College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Trinity College is located in Hartford, CT (Midsize City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Trinity College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Trinity College 9:1; Boston University 10:1.

Trinity College vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trinity 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 Boston University than Trinity College ($24,420 vs. $36,071).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity College are 0.7% lower than at Boston University ($18,890 vs. $19,020).
  • Trinity College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,668 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Trinity College than at Boston University (about $2,668 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity College than at Boston University (73% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 19.5% larger than aid received by Trinity College students ($61,848 vs. $51,754).

Trinity College vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Trinity 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 Trinity College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 100 points higher than at Trinity College (1380).
  • Incoming BU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Trinity College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 1298/1470; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 30/34; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Trinity College - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Trinity College Jan 17, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Trinity College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Trinity College has a higher acceptance rate (29.2%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.8% at Trinity College vs. 37.4% at BU.

Trinity College vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Trinity 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).

  • Trinity College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $500 more per year than Trinity College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $71,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Trinity College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($21,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Trinity College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($217 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinity College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.