Boston University or BU is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area. It has a large student body with around 36,000 students. Admissions are very competitive with an acceptance rate of nearly 11%. Some popular majors include Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Professions, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is around 89%, and BU graduates have a median income of around INR 61,00,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from ~$72,500). BU is well known for its reputable professional programs, global research reputation, and inner urban campus life.
Harvard University is an Ivy League private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just south of the Charles River from Boston. It is a big school with approximately 30,000 students. Admissions are very competitive, with a rate of acceptance of approximately 3.%. Some of the most popular majors are Social Sciences, Biology, Computer Science, History, and Mathematics. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 97%, and Harvard graduates have a median income of approximately INR 1,13,00,000 (ten years after leaving college, converted from ~$136,700). Harvard is always among the world's best universities and is renowned for its intellectual reputation, leadership impacts, and revolutionary research.
| Boston University | Harvard University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 10 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 76 Times Higher Education 2026 # 88 QS World University 2026 # 75 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 5 Times Higher Education 2026 # 5 QS World University 2026 # 1 Center for World University Rankings 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 Times Higher Education 2025 # 6 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -98 PG Programs -136 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -53 Doctorate Programs -9 |
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8 % | 3.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-115 GMAT-650 IELTS-7 SAT-1400 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-620 GRE-300 IELTS-7 SAT-1470 TOEFL-80 |
| 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 68266 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 71030 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32724 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.
| Harvard University is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #5 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and ranked #1 in US UNI.
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| 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.) | Teacher Evaluation forms (as additional LORs); Sample of academic work, potfolio, music recordings, art work, etc (supplementary documents); IELTS/TOEFL; Standardized test scores |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Questrom School of Business | Harvard Law School Harvard Extension School Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Business School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 14 reviews | 7.1/10 Read 5 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 QS World University 2025 # 6 for Business by US News 2025 # 7 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | #9856 Applicants # 930 Admissions # 9 % Acceptance Rate |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120 | Duolingo - 145/160GMAT - 740/800GRE - 326/340IELTS - 7.5/9PTE - 75/90TOEFL - 109/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -78102 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| 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 3, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for Fall 2028 Intake) Dec 10, 2025 (Round 1 Application Decision for Fall 2028 Intake) Jan 5, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for Fall 2028 Intake) Mar 25, 2026 (Round 2 Application Decision for Fall 2028 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Boston University | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1839 | 1636 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 7:1 |
| Male:Female | 40% Male, 60% Female | 52% Male, 48% 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. | Harvard Yard: Campus’s historic hub, Harvard Square: Campus’s personal hagout destination with restaurants, cafe, bookstores, theater, shops. Well connected to the local neighborhood of Boston by public transport, the campus traverses the Charles River to near by Allston. |
| 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. | Largest academic library in the world. 20.4 million volumes, 400 million manuscript items, 180,000 serial titles. The library offers various grants and fellowships for both students and faculty. |
| 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 | Students from over 50 states and 80 countries are offered assistance by over 400 official student organization. The campus has its own museum, radio station, magazine and newspaper. Along with student clubs for Aikikai, archery, dance, theatre/drama, music, etc, campus also offers cultural & racial initiatives, asian student centric-projects, etc. Varsity sports, crimson pride and various atheletic teams. |
| Hostel | #Double - $19020 #Single with private bath and board - $24010 | #Medium Single - $10719 #Large Single - $13644 #Standard Single - $8361 |
| 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) | Eight US Presidents, 62 living billionaires, 242 Marshall Scholars, 359 Rhodes scholars. Barak Obama (ex-president of USA), Michelle Obama (Former First Lady of USA), Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman (Actress), Bill Gates, Conan O’ Brien (comedian writer), Al Gore (Winner-Peace Prize), Matt Damon (Actor), Helen Keller, Subramaniam Swami (Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha) |
| Weather |
Boston University vs Harvard University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both are very renowned institutions in Boston, although Harvard is always ranked among the top universities globally. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Harvard comes in approximately 5th position globally, while Boston University comes in at about the 88th level. Harvard is better in almost every category, especially law, medicine, business, economics, and sciences, while BU is particularly well-represented in communications, business, international relations, health sciences, and performing arts.
General Information
Harvard University, established in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest U.S. university, with approximately 23,000 students (undergraduate and graduate). It is an Ivy League and international leader in elite academics, research, and impact. Boston University, established in 1839, is a large private research university based in Boston proper, with roughly 37,000 students. BU has an urban campus, diversity, and highly regarded professional schools.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Harvard is very competitive with an acceptance rate of approximately 3%. Boston University is competitive but not as selective with an acceptance rate of about 11%. Harvard welcomes students with near-flawless academic performance, while BU welcomes strong applicants but also considers them well-rounded with professional career goals.
Research Impact & Facilities
Harvard is an R1 research giant, with colossal funding, Nobel winners, and top-ranked centers in every field from biotech to political science. BU is also an R1 research institution with high volume, particularly in health sciences, neuroscience, engineering, and communication studies, but it's on a smaller scale than Harvard's extensive global reach.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are pricey private institutions with tuition of about USD 62,000–65,000 per annum. Yet Harvard's need-based financial aid program is one of the most generous in the world, frequently covering almost all expenses for low- and middle-income households. BU offers merit-based and need-based aid, but its financial packages are generally less complete than Harvard's.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Harvard graduates overwhelm almost all aspects — politics (US presidents, global leaders), business (Fortune 500 executives), law, science, and education. Its worldwide alumni connections are unmatched. BU graduates shape media, performing arts, business, international relations, and medicine, with alumni like journalists, actors, and entrepreneurs. Harvard has no equal in worldwide reach, but BU has solid career streams in professional schools and advantages of being in Boston.
