Location
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
- Vanderbilt University
- Nashville, TN
Boston University vs Vanderbilt University
Boston, MA · Nashville, TN · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:TN
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × TN
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- 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 Vanderbilt University across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- Boston University: enrollment grew +8.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +135 students/yr fitted, r² 0.66.
- Vanderbilt University: enrollment grew +5.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +38 students/yr fitted, r² 0.82.
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- Vanderbilt University: acceptance rate tightened -50.7% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.81).
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
- Vanderbilt University
- 7,208
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston University
- $23,250
- Vanderbilt University
- $14,000
Avg Net Price
- Boston University
- $24,402
- Vanderbilt University
- $15,846
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston University
- $65,655
- Vanderbilt University
- $73,909
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston University
- $83,238
- Vanderbilt University
- $91,565
SAT Average
- Boston University
- 1,480
- Vanderbilt University
- 1,549
150%-Time Completion
- Boston University
- 89.3%
- Vanderbilt University
- 93.1%
Retention Rate
- Boston University
- 94.7%
- Vanderbilt University
- 96.3%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston University Boston, MA | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Nashville, TN |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 18,248 | 7,208 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.1% | 5.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 | $14,000 |
| Avg Net Price | $24,402 | $15,846 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $65,655 | $73,909 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $91,565 |
| SAT Average | 1,480 | 1,549 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.3% | 93.1% |
| Retention Rate | 94.7% | 96.3% |
Largest gaps: Boston University vs Vanderbilt University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate (5.9% vs 11.1% at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Vanderbilt University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $23,250 at Boston University)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Vanderbilt University leads on avg net price ($15,846 vs $24,402 at Boston University)
Boston University profile · Vanderbilt University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston University and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on acceptance rate at 5.9% versus 11.1% at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Boston University and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $23,250 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Boston University and Vanderbilt University?▼
Vanderbilt University leads on avg net price at $15,846 versus $24,402 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