Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northeastern BC NYU Northwestern Babson Harvard Cornell Tufts UMass Brandeis University Yale Duke| University of Chicago | Boston University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UChicago | BU | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 18,339 | 36,624 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #8 | #77 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uchicago.edu | bu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UChicago | BU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,801 | $63,798 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,801 | $63,798 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,221 | $18,110 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,979 | $27,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $58,877 | $55,080 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 46% | 50% |
Admission |
UChicago | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 38,631 | 80,495 | ||
| Admitted | 1,849 | 8,733 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 4.8% | 10.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 87.9% | 36% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.95 | 3.79 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1510/1570 | 1400/1520 | ||
| 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 4, 2026 |
Academics |
UChicago | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UChicago | BU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 92% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $98,500 | $72,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $14,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $149 | $279 |
Diversity |
UChicago | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 45% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 11% | 20% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 10% | 5% |
Students |
UChicago | BU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 12% | 14% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 61% | ||
Campus |
UChicago | BU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | 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 UChicago based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 18,339 students)
UChicago vs. BU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UChicago or BU?
- University of Chicago is 0% more expensive to attend than BU for in-state tuition ($63,801.00 vs. $63,798.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0% higher at UChicago than Boston University ($63,801.00 vs. $63,798.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than UChicago ($27,551 vs. $27,979)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 6.1% lower than costs at University of Chicago ($18,110 vs. $19,221)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than University of Chicago (50% vs. 46%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 6.9% larger than aid received Boston University ($58,877 vs. $55,080)
UChicago vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UChicago or BU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BU or UChicago .
- The average SAT score at University of Chicago (1506) is 203 points higher than at BU (1303)
- Incoming UChicago students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at BU (29)
- Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at BU (3.79)
- BU has a higher acceptance rate (10.8%) than UChicago (4.8%)
UChicago vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UChicago 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 UChicago.
- The graduation rate at UChicago is higher than Boston University (92% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from University of Chicago earn on average $26,500 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($98,500 vs. $72,000)
- University of Chicago students graduate with a $12,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($14,500 vs. $27,000)
- UChicago graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($149 vs. $279)
- More UChicago 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/