Yale vs. BU

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, 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 Yale based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Boston University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Boston University 10:1.

Yale vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than BU ($22,408 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 4.4% lower than at Yale University ($19,020 vs. $19,900).
  • Boston University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $852 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at BU than at Yale University (about $852 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Boston University (56% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 6.5% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($65,892 vs. $61,848).

Yale vs. BU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 40 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale 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 (11.1%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 37.4% at BU.

Yale vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $46,400 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($13,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $140 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($139 vs. $279).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

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.