Location
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- New York, NY
Boston University vs Columbia University in the City of New York
Boston, MA · New York, NY · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:NY
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × NY
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · narrow · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Nearly parallel enrollment growth
ENROLL-RACE · narrow · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Boston University and Columbia University in the City of New York across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- Columbia University in the City of New York: enrollment grew +11.7% over 2013–2023; fitted +92 students/yr fitted, r² 0.74.
- Boston University: enrollment grew +8.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +135 students/yr fitted, r² 0.66.
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- Columbia University in the City of New York: acceptance rate tightened -43.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.79).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Boston University
- 18,248
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston University
- $65,655
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston University
- $83,238
Avg Net Price
- Boston University
- $24,402
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston University
- $23,250
150%-Time Completion
- Boston University
- 89.3%
In-State Tuition
- Boston University
- $68,102
Out-of-State Tuition
- Boston University
- $68,102
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston University Boston, MA | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 18,248 | 8,973 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.1% | 4.0% |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $65,655 | $88,535 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $102,491 |
| Avg Net Price | $24,402 | $21,590 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 | $21,500 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.3% | 95.5% |
| In-State Tuition | $68,102 | $71,845 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,102 | $71,845 |
Largest gaps: Boston University vs Columbia University in the City of New York
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Columbia University in the City of New York leads on acceptance rate (4.0% vs 11.1% at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Columbia University in the City of New York leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($88,535 vs $65,655 at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 Columbia University in the City of New York leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($102,491 vs $83,238 at Boston University)
Boston University profile · Columbia University in the City of New York profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Columbia University in the City of New York leads on acceptance rate at 4.0% versus 11.1% at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Boston University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Columbia University in the City of New York leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $88,535 versus $65,655 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Boston University and Columbia University in the City of New York?▼
Columbia University in the City of New York leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $102,491 versus $83,238 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025