Boston University, BU, is a large private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It has around 36,000 students, including a major international student population. Admissions are competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 11%. Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Professions, and Social Sciences are the most popular majors. Six-year graduation rate is about 89%, and BU alumni have a median salary of around INR 61,00,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from ~$72,500). BU boasts excellent professional programs, research possibilities, and urban campus experience.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a globally acclaimed private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just over the Charles River from Boston. It is a smaller, elite university with approximately 11,500 students. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 1.9%. Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, and Mathematics are some of the most popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 95%, and MIT graduates have a reported median income of approximately INR 1,60,00,000 (ten years after graduation, converted from ~$192,000). MIT is world-renowned for its innovative research, entrepreneurship, and leadership in entrepreneurship and STEM.
| Boston University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 88 QS World University 2026 # 75 Times Higher Education 2025 # 99 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1 QS World University 2026 # 1 QS World University 2025 # 2 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 27 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 22 for Law by US News 2025 | # 1 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 11 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -98 PG Programs -136 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -47 PG Programs -38 Doctorate Programs -29 |
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8 % | 1.9 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-115 GMAT-650 IELTS-7 SAT-1400 TOEFL-100 | GRE-310 IELTS-7 PTE-65 SAT-1510 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 43030 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 30996 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30995 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32280 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 96% of graduates employed within 6 months of graduation.Top recruiters: Brigham’s and Women’s Hospital; Wayfair LLC; Children’s Hospital, Boston; Amazon; Apple; Tesla; U.S. Department of State; Nike.
| Average Salaries Of Degree:
|
| application requirements | Academic transcripts; English proficiency results; documentation of financial support; Standardized Tests (ACT/ SAT are optional); 2-3 LORs; Resume; Written Statement; Teacher Evaluation; Additional Requirements (portfolios; audition; medical requirements, etc.) | Letter of recommendations (two, preferrably from teachers of subjects maths and science or humanities) |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Questrom School of Business | MIT Sloan School of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 14 reviews | - |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 45 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 46 for Business by US News 2025 # 78 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 2 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| application | - | #4208 Applicants # 433 Admissions # 11 % Acceptance Rate |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120 | GMAT - 720/800GRE - 311/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -78102 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -120461 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 8, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 15, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 19, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Date for Fall 2026 Intake) Feb 4, 2026 (Round 1 Enrolment Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Feb 27, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Date for Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 4, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for Fall 2025 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Round 2 Enrolment Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) May 1, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Date for Fall 2025 Intake) May 22, 2026 (Round 3 Enrolment Deadline for Fall 2025 Intake) | Sep 29, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Jan 13, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Apr 6, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Boston University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1839 | 1861 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 3:1 |
| Male:Female | 40% Male, 60% Female | 55% Male, 45% Female |
| Location Facts | 3 campuses; main campus situated along Charles River in Fenway- Kenmore & Allston neighborhood; BU Medical Campus in the South End neighborhood of Boston; Fenway Campus in the Riverway area near South Campus. | Lying between central and kendall squares across Charles River from Boston’s Back bay. Small instituition with close knit student body postioned to collaborate and contribute to neighbors |
| Library | BU Library System consists of 21 libraries; houses 2.4 million physical volumes, over 45,000 current unique serials, 77,000 media titles; Mugar Memorial Library is the main library with other several specialized libraries with area-specific research collections. | More than 5 million items, with over 21,000 MIT theses |
| Campus Life | 500+ student clubs; fitness center; Agganis Arena (art entertainment complex); FitRec (270,000 sq foot fitness & recreation center); BU Beach; Morse Auditorium (Theatre); Marsh Chapel; Photonics Center; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL); BU Bridge | Over 450 co-curricular organizations, Society for Women Engineers, LGTQ+ community, Black stuents union, 33 varsity sports, The Tech (student newspaper), The Byte (graduate student publication), religious organizations, around 43 sororities, fraternities and independent living groups. |
| Hostel | #Double - $19020 #Single with private bath and board - $24010 | #Rooms - $12000 #Rooms - $13060 |
| Famous Alumni | 390,700+ living alumni; 8 Nobel Laureates; 23 Pulitzer Prize winners; 10 Rhodes Scholars; 6 Marshall Scholars; 48 Sloan Fellows; 9 Academy Award winners; several Emmy & Tony Award winners; Martin Luther King, Jr. (American Civil Rights Movement leader); PSY (South Korean singer); Genna Davis (American actress); Bill O'Reilly (American journalist and TV host) | 85 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science Winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Winners |
| City Life | Boston- world leader in higher education because of several colleges & universities in the area; 12th largest economy in the world (majorly based on finance, professional & business services, biotechnology, IT, government activities, etc.); Popular tourist attractions include: Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, Beacon Hill, Harvard Square, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, New England Aquarium; Unemployment rate- 2.9% (Sept 2022). | Cambridge- city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts; City is part of the Boston metropolitan area; home to a huge student community; Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 2.1% (Dec 2019) |
| Weather |
Boston University vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
MIT is perpetually ranked in the top 1 universities in the world, recognized for its unparalleled areas of strength in engineering, computer science, physics, economics, mathematics, and management. Boston University, on the other hand, ranks approximately 88th in the world (QS 2026) and is good at business, communications, health sciences, international relations, and performing arts. Although BU has good research and professional programs, MIT outshines in all STEM areas and global innovation indicators.
General Information
MIT, founded in 1861 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has about 12,000 students and is a highly selective, research-oriented school with a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and science/technology leadership.
BU, founded in 1839 in Boston, enrolls over 37,000 students and has a broader range of programs in liberal arts, professional schools, and research, with an urban campus incorporated into Boston city life.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
MIT is among the globe's most competitive universities, with a general acceptance rate of about 1.9%, and emphasis on high-end STEM capabilities, research potential, and innovation leadership.BU is selective but slightly more accessible to new students, with an 11% acceptance rate, attracting students who seek both professional and liberal arts education in a great city environment.
Research Impact & Facilities
MIT is an international research giant, with large labs, tech incubators, and Nobel winners in STEM and economics. It dominates applied sciences, AI, robotics, and entrepreneurial innovation.
BU is an R1 research university, well established in medicine, health sciences, engineering, and social sciences, but with lesser global research influence than that of MIT internationally.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are private universities with costs in the range of USD 62,000–65,000 annually.
MIT offers very generous need-based aid, frequently covering almost all the expense for middle- and low-income students, whereas BU provides a combination of merit- and need-based aid, which is competitive but overall less comprehensive than MIT's.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
MIT graduates excel in technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, science, and economics, with a worldwide network of influencers shaping innovation and Fortune 500 leadership.
BU graduates are leaders in business, law, medicine, communications, and global affairs, with extensive regional and professional networks, especially in Boston. MIT has unparalleled international prestige and STEM leadership, and BU offers wider career opportunities across several fields.
