UD vs. BU

Deciding between University of Delaware 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 Delaware
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than UD based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Boston University 10:1.

UD vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than BU ($19,139 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 19.1% lower than at Boston University ($15,386 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 305.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $51,292 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.5% higher at BU than at University of Delaware (about $26,702 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Boston University (91% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 365% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($61,848 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 200 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at BU (3.79).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 37.4% at BU.

UD vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $2,797 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($24,203 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UD graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.