Rochester vs Boston University (BU)

Nestled in the heart of New York State, the University of Rochester (UR) and Boston University (BU), a vibrant institution in Massachusetts, stand as two prominent beacons of higher education. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they also possess distinct characteristics that set them apart. UR boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 32%, while BU adopts a more inclusive approach, welcoming a broader range of students with an acceptance rate of 29%. In terms of student demographics, UR's undergraduate population is predominantly White (53%) and Asian (26%), while BU's student body reflects a more diverse mix, with White (48%), Asian (20%), and Hispanic (13%) students comprising significant portions. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique strengths and offerings of each institution, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Boston University logo

Boston University

University of Rochester logo

University of Rochester

Overview

Location Boston, Massachusetts Rochester, New York
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 18.6% 40.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1360 - 1520 1370 - 1520
ACT range 31 - 34 31 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 22.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 7.0%
Total number of applicants 75,778 19,543
Total number of admissions given out 14,129 7,924
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,011 1,623
Yield rate 28.4% 20.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not 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 $79,456
Average net price $25,852 $40,125
Tuition $58,560 $58,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,990

Meal plan: $5,850
Room/dormitory: $10,692

Meal plan: $6,696
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
75.0%
Average amount $37,870
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $4,317
37.0%
Average amount $4,351
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $25,248
7.0%
Average amount $22,054

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,229
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
6,568
Men 48.0% Women 52.0%
Graduate students 17,875
Men 42.5% Women 57.5%
5,471
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 26.6% 30.7%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 11,356 1,350
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
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
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 85.9%
Dropout rate 10.3% 4.2%
Transferred out N/A 8.8%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,070
  • Year 2: $89,524
  • Year 3: $104,615
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,531
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $104,384
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,464
  • Year 2: $95,073
  • Year 3: $92,400
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,860
  • Year 2: $83,546
  • Year 3: $90,745
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,134
  • Year 2: $73,321
  • Year 3: $87,028
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,597
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $83,153
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,852
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $75,215
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,873
  • Year 2: $57,705
  • Year 3: $73,661
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $72,841
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,595
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $70,372

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