Boston University
BOSTON, MA
Emory University
ATLANTA, GA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Boston university vs Emory — US university comparison

Boston University
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston, MA
World rank · ARWU#101-150
Acceptance11.1%
Median SAT1480
Graduation rate88.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K
Emory University
EMORY
Atlanta, GA
World rank · ARWU#101-150
Acceptance10.7%
Median SAT1520
Graduation rate91.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$80K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Boston University Emory University
#101-150 World rank · ARWU #101-150
#75 Rank · THE
11.1% Acceptance rate 10.7%
1480 Median SAT 1520
88.7% Graduation rate 91.1%
36,977 Enrollment 15,179

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.1% Acceptance rate 10.7%
35% Yield rate 40.4%
1480 Median SAT 1520
3.90 Avg. GPA 3.80
76,776 Number of applications 34,614
32% Int'l students 19%
$83K Median earnings · 10 yrs $80K
$76K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $84K
$122K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $120K
88.7% Graduation rate 91.1%
94.2% Retention rate 96%
$23,250 Median debt $18,250
$68,102 Tuition · year $64,280
$69,396 Avg. aid package $67,329
92% % of need met 99.9%
$36,774 Avg. graduate debt $24,562
$80 Application fee $75
Avg. int'l aid
At a glance
Emory leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Grad. debt$36,774 vs $24,562
Debt$23,250 vs $18,250
Yield35% vs 40.4%

EXPERT TAKE

Emory is the more selective of the two (10.7% vs 11.1% acceptance). Boston university graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $80K). Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,280 vs $68,102 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical — the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Boston university for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

Choose Emory for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Emory is more selective (10.7% vs 11.1% acceptance); Emory has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1480).

Graduate outcomes

Boston university graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $80K); Emory has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.1% vs 88.7%).

Cost and aid

Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,280 vs $68,102); Boston university offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $67,329).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kBoston universityEmory TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Boston university and Emory highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Boston university Emory
World rank · ARWU#101-150#101-150
Rank · THE#75
Acceptance rate11.1%10.7%
Yield rate35%40.4%
Median SAT14801520
Avg. GPA3.903.80
Number of applications76,77634,614
International students32%19%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K$80K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$76K$84K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$122K$120K
Graduation rate88.7%91.1%
Retention rate94.2%96%
Median debt$23,250$18,250
Tuition · year$68,102$64,280
Avg. aid package$69,396$67,329
% of need met92%99.9%
Avg. graduate debt$36,774$24,562
Application fee$80$75
Enrollment36,97715,179

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Boston university or Emory?

It's harder to get into Emory. Boston university accepts 11.1% of applicants, while Emory accepts 10.7%.

Do Boston university or Emory graduates earn more?

Boston university graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $80K.

How much is tuition at Boston university vs Emory?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,102 per year at Boston university and $64,280 per year at Emory.

What SAT score do you need for Boston university or Emory?

The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Boston university and 1520 at Emory; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university offers more financial aid — Boston university or Emory?

The average aid package is $69,396 at Boston university and $67,329 at Emory.

Compare Boston university with
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.