Boston University (BU) vs Simmons

Boston University and Simmons University, both located in the vibrant city of Boston, offer distinct educational experiences for prospective students. Boston University, a comprehensive research university, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while Simmons University, a private university with a focus on health sciences, arts, and social sciences, offers a more intimate learning environment. With different acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, these universities cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences, ensuring you make an informed decision for your higher education journey.
Boston University logo

Boston University

Simmons University logo

Simmons University

Overview

Location Boston, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 86.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 18.6% 83.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $56
SAT range 1360 - 1520 1140 - 1360
ACT range 31 - 34 27 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 15.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 3.0%
Total number of applicants 75,778 3,516
Total number of admissions given out 14,129 2,937
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,011 403
Yield rate 28.4% 13.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,606 $62,784
Average net price $25,852 $19,026
Tuition $58,560 $41,872
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,990

Meal plan: $5,850
$15,892
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

53.0%
Average amount $50,486
100.0%
Average amount $30,753
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $4,317
65.0%
Average amount $5,057
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $25,248
5.0%
Average amount $10,341

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,229
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
1,748
Men 0.0% Women 100.0%
Graduate students 17,875
Men 42.5% Women 57.5%
4,236
Men 11.4% Women 88.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 26.6% 0.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 11,356 988
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania Mississippi Connecticut Maine New Hampshire New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Library Science
  • Psychology
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 70.7%
Dropout rate 10.3% 17.2%
Transferred out N/A 11.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,398
  • Year 2: $125,611
  • Year 3: $147,490
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,318
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $142,427
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,155
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $117,665
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,383
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $115,901
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,027
  • Year 2: $106,688
  • Year 3: $113,743
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,380
  • Year 2: $102,306
  • Year 3: $111,308
Insurance (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,170
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $108,260
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,069
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $106,517
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,263
  • Year 2: $96,829
  • Year 3: $104,284
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,137
  • Year 2: $83,848
  • Year 3: $99,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,277
  • Year 2: $97,241
  • Year 3: $103,131
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,151
  • Year 2: $71,778
  • Year 3: $80,723
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,272
  • Year 2: $67,789
  • Year 3: $71,983
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,105
  • Year 2: $67,740
  • Year 3: $70,098
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,112
  • Year 2: $61,751
  • Year 3: $66,876
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $50,439
  • Year 3: $60,411
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $56,033
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,859
  • Year 2: $52,808
  • Year 3: $55,654
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,457
  • Year 2: $48,198
  • Year 3: $53,806
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $53,595

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