Location
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- New York, NY
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
Columbia University in the City of New York vs Boston University
New York, NY · Boston, MA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair NY:MA
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 NY × MA
- 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 Columbia University in the City of New York and Boston 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.
- 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.
- Columbia University in the City of New York: acceptance rate tightened -43.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.79).
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
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 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Boston University Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 8,973 | 18,248 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.0% | 11.1% |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $88,535 | $65,655 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $102,491 | $83,238 |
| Avg Net Price | $21,590 | $24,402 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 | $23,250 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 95.5% | 89.3% |
| In-State Tuition | $71,845 | $68,102 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $71,845 | $68,102 |
Largest gaps: Columbia University in the City of New York vs Boston University
- 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)
Columbia University in the City of New York profile · Boston University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Columbia University in the City of New York and Boston University?▼
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 Columbia University in the City of New York and Boston University?▼
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 Columbia University in the City of New York and Boston University?▼
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