Boston University is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts in the Boston metropolitan area. It's a very large university with 18,229 undergraduate students. Admission is highly competitive with Boston University acceptance rate at approximately 10.8%. Some of the offered majors are Business, Communications, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Health Professions. Six-year graduation rate is 89%, and the median starting salary of Boston University alumni is around INR 69,27,000 (after ten years of graduation, equivalent to $83,600 median earnings).
Tufts University is a private research-based university located in Medford, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston metropolitan area. It is a mid-sized university with 6,732 undergraduate students. Admissions are highly competitive, as the Tufts University acceptance rate is approximately 10.1%. Popular majors include Social Sciences, Biology, International Relations, Engineering, and Psychology. The six-year graduation rate is 94%, and Tufts University graduates still receive a median starting salary of around INR 73,71,000 (from $88,900 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| Boston University | Tufts University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 5.6 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 76 Times Higher Education 2026 # 88 QS World University 2026 # 75 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 189 Times Higher Education 2026 # 334 QS World University 2026 # 179 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 | # 69 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 112 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 351 for Law by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -98 PG Programs -136 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -42 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.0 % | 9.7 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-125 GMAT-688 IELTS-7 TOEFL-100 | Duolingo-130 GMAT-680 IELTS-7 PTE-68 SAT-1440 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 15450 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 54724.19 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 50955.30 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 19566 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.
| Some of the programs and the average salary are:
|
| 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 recommendation from a junior year and senior year teacher. Extracurricular activities record, art portfolio are required (15-20) for admission in art school. |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 14 reviews | 7.8/10 Read 4 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 45 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 101 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 107 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 | # 61 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 401 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 651 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 115/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 84/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Feb 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Summer 2026 Intake) Jun 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Mar 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Oct 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Spring 2027 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Boston University | Tufts University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1839 | 1852 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1:1 | 10:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 41% Male, 0% Female | 1% Male, 0% 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. | 4 campuses: Boston Health Sciences Campus, Boston Fenway Campus; Medford/Somerville Campus (main campus), Grafton Campus. The main campus is 5 miles from Boston, the others are also known as uphill and downhill campuses. |
| 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. | 6 libraries on 3 campuses; Books available from 19 academic areas; Over 38,000 electronic journals and databases; Digital collections available at Tufts Digital Collections & Archives. |
| 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 300 student-run clubs and organizations; 25 cultural clubs; Debate and mock trials; Political groups; Publications such as Tufts Daily, Tufts Observer, and Traveler Magazine. Each year around 180 performances for music & arts take place on-campus each year. 21 sports clubs that compete in 28 varsity sports. |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food - $15450 | #Housing - $10660 |
| 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) | Mulatu Teshome Wirtu (President of Ethiopia); Dan Crenshaw (former Navy SEAL); Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay); Jamie Dimon (CEO of JPMorgan Chase); Jeff Kindler (former CEO of Pfizer); David Faber (anchor at CNBC), David Faber (journalist), Shashi Tharoor (MP Lok Sabha), Oliver Platt (actor), etc. |
| Weather |
Boston University vs Tufts University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Boston University (BU) is ranked #88 in QS and 75th in Time Higher Education with internationally recognized programs in Medicine, Public Health, Business, Communication, Engineering, and International Relations. Tufts University is ranked #334 in QS and 179th in Time Higher Education, notably for International Relations (Fletcher School), Arts & Sciences, Veterinary Medicine (Cummings School), and Biomedical Sciences. BU is more comprehensive and research-focused overall, whereas Tufts is stellar in liberal arts and international policy areas.
General Information
Boston University, established in 1839, is a large private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately 37,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Tufts University, established in 1852, is a private research university in Medford/Somerville, just outside Boston, with approximately 13,000 students. BU has a large urban campus woven into city life, whereas Tufts has a smaller, suburban-style campus with an intimate community environment.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
BU has an acceptance rate of approximately 10.8%, with which it is highly selective, particularly in Management, Communication, and Engineering. Tufts is also highly selective with an acceptance rate of roughly 10.1% with a focus on solid academics, world awareness, and leadership ability. Both universities are competitive, though Tufts is a bit tougher to get into generally because of its smaller size.
Research Impact & Facilities
BU is an R1: Very High Research Activity institution, with over $600 million in annual research expenditure, particularly leading in Medicine, Public Health, and Engineering. Tufts is an R1 institution but smaller in scale, with concentration in Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition, International Policy, and Veterinary Medicine. BU has a broader global reach in research, while Tufts conducts high-impact, focused research fields.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are private institutions with comparable fees, about $65,000–$67,000 annually. Adding the cost of living, the total yearly fee can be as high as $85,000–$90,000. Both institutions offer need-based aid and merit scholarships, with Tufts tending to focus on global citizenship scholarships and BU being famous for scholarships such as the Trustee and Presidential Scholarships.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
BU has more than 400,000 living alumni around the world, with graduates who excel in business, law, medicine, communication, and arts sectors. Being in Boston gives direct access to internships, hospitals, technology companies, and media outlets. Tufts alumni are particularly prominent in international relations, government, health, and non-profit sectors, with Fletcher School graduates being highly influential worldwide. BU provides scale and professional depth, with Tufts prioritizing global leadership and tight-knit alumni ties.
