UConn vs. BU

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
Boston University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Boston University 10:1.

UConn vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 UConn ($24,420 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 24.4% lower than at Boston University ($14,380 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 223.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $47,058 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.8% higher at BU than at University of Connecticut (about $24,390 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Boston University (81% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 274.8% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($61,848 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 150 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 37.4% at BU.

UConn vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UConn graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.