Boston University (BU) vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich)

Boston University and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Boston University, nestled in the heart of Boston, boasts a vibrant urban campus and a diverse student body, while the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, situated in the charming college town of Ann Arbor, offers a sprawling campus and a strong sense of community. With acceptance rates of 21% and 29%, respectively, both universities are highly selective, attracting top students from across the globe. While Boston University excels in fields like Business, Computer Science, and Engineering, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor shines in programs such as Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, student demographics, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Boston University logo

Boston University

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Overview

Location Boston, Massachusetts Ann Arbor, Michigan
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Trimester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 18.6% 20.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1360 - 1520 N/A
ACT range 31 - 34 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0%
Total number of applicants 75,778 79,743
Total number of admissions given out 14,129 16,071
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,011 7,290
Yield rate 28.4% 45.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,606
In state: $32,272

Out of state: $69,326
Average net price $25,852 $19,205
Tuition $58,560
In state: $15,850

Out of state: $52,904
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,990

Meal plan: $5,850
$12,592
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

53.0%
Average amount $50,486
59.0%
Average amount $16,326
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $4,317
24.0%
Average amount $5,311
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $25,248
3.0%
Average amount $21,796

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,229
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
32,282
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 17,875
Men 42.5% Women 57.5%
17,996
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 26.6% 15.7%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 11,356 11,629
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 93.7%
Dropout rate 10.3% 5.7%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,398
  • Year 2: $125,611
  • Year 3: $147,490
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,318
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $142,427
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,155
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $117,665
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,383
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $115,901
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,027
  • Year 2: $106,688
  • Year 3: $113,743
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,380
  • Year 2: $102,306
  • Year 3: $111,308
Insurance (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,170
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $108,260
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,069
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $106,517
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,263
  • Year 2: $96,829
  • Year 3: $104,284
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,137
  • Year 2: $83,848
  • Year 3: $99,636
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $185,139
  • Year 2: $178,741
  • Year 3: $197,723
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $209,842
  • Year 2: $168,125
  • Year 3: $177,935
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $146,285
  • Year 2: $139,927
  • Year 3: $151,208
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $139,794
  • Year 2: $140,166
  • Year 3: $148,785
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,208
  • Year 2: $112,215
  • Year 3: $137,273
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,398
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $123,926
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,643
  • Year 2: $94,281
  • Year 3: $117,745
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,847
  • Year 2: $116,354
  • Year 3: $116,465
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,171
  • Year 2: $99,772
  • Year 3: $107,831
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,194
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,999

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