Head to head
Boston University vs Harvard University
Boston University (Boston, MA) and Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Boston University | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Cambridge, MA |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Private | Private |
| Campus setting | Urban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $68,102 | $61,676 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $68,102 | $61,676 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $24,402 | $19,066 |
| Acceptance rate | 11% | 4% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1400–1520 | 1500–1580 |
| Total enrollment | 35,818 | 29,046 |
| Graduation rate | 89% | 98% |
| First-year retention | 95% | 98% |
What the numbers show
- Harvard University has the lower published in-state tuition ($61,676 vs $68,102 at Boston University).
- Harvard University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($61,676 vs $68,102 at Boston University).
- Harvard University has the lower average net price after aid ($19,066 vs $24,402 at Boston University).
- Harvard University has the higher graduation rate (98% vs 89% at Boston University).
- Harvard University has the lower acceptance rate (4% vs 11% at Boston University).
- Boston University has the larger student body (35,818 students vs 29,046 students at Harvard University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Boston University or Harvard University?
- Harvard University has the lower published in-state tuition: $61,676 versus $68,102. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $24,402 at Boston University and $19,066 at Harvard University — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is Boston University or Harvard University harder to get into?
- Harvard University has the lower acceptance rate — 4% versus 11%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Boston University or Harvard University?
- Harvard University reports the higher graduation rate: 98% versus 89%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
Related comparisons
Keep going on CampusPin
Narrow this list with the full filter set, or put any two colleges side by side.
Data sources & methodology
Figures for Boston University and Harvard University come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Boston University vs Harvard University. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/boston-university-vs-harvard-university