Boston University
Boston University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Boston University at a Glance
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodists with its original campus in Newbury, Vermont. It was chartered in Boston in 1869. The university is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Boston Consortium for Higher Education.
1839
187 years old
$4.0B
$4.045 billion (2025)
38,093
18,253 undergrad · 18,341 grad
3,412
169 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Boston University
Official admissions pageNovember 2 (Early Decision)
$80
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is Boston University Worth It?
Boston University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $24,402/year, it's priced 20% above average, while graduates go on to earn $83,238 — 55% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 89% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 11% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Bottom line: Boston University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Boston University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in MA
Ranked #7 of 16 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Chicago | 100 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| #2 | Harvard University | 100 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| #3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | 100 | $21,590 | $102,491 |
| #4 | Washington University in St Louis | 93 | $21,786 | $86,182 |
| #5 | University of Notre Dame | 90 | $26,780 | $99,980 |
| #6 | Cornell University | 86 | $28,690 | $104,043 |
| #7 | Boston University | 76 | $24,402 | $83,238 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Boston University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in MA.
Best Programs at Boston University
The highest-earning program at Boston University is Computer Engineering at $80,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $22,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from Boston University earns $80,000, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $22,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $26,892 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $24,402/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $80,000 | $80,000 | $26,892 |
| Computer Science | $78,200 | $78,200 | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,800 | $67,800 | $24,944 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $66,900 | $66,900 | $26,870 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,300 | $56,300 | $25,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $55,300 | $55,300 | $25,832 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $52,600 | $52,600 | $24,750 |
| Economics | $50,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $44,800 | $44,800 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $44,400 | $44,400 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $42,900 | $42,900 | $24,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,900 | $40,900 | $27,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $40,800 | $40,800 | $26,304 |
| Sociology | $39,600 | $39,600 | $26,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $39,500 | $39,500 | $26,963 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $39,000 | $39,000 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $38,900 | $38,900 | $25,750 |
| Social Work | $37,000 | $37,000 | $27,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $36,200 | $36,200 | $26,833 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $36,200 | $36,200 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,100 | $36,100 | $27,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $35,700 | $35,700 | $27,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $35,700 | $35,700 | $24,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $34,200 | $34,200 | $22,915 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $34,100 | $34,100 | $27,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,800 | $33,800 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $33,700 | $33,700 | $25,864 |
| Journalism | $33,500 | $33,500 | $24,475 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,402 |
| Biology, General | $31,600 | $31,600 | $26,515 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,000 | $31,000 | $26,250 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $30,000 | $30,000 | $27,000 |
| Music | $29,600 | $29,600 | $23,521 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $28,500 | $28,500 | $25,500 |
| History | $28,100 | $28,100 | $26,920 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,100 | $23,100 | $24,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,700 | $22,700 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Student Body
- 18,248 students
- Admission Rate
- 11%
- Graduation Rate
- 89%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $24,402
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $83,238
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250