Notre Dame vs Boston University - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The share of international students differs sharply: 20.1% (Boston University) against 7.5% (Notre Dame).
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Notre Dame: $100K against $83K.
40 points separate the SAT profiles: 1510 (Notre Dame) against 1470.
The fight for an admitted student is won more often by Notre Dame: 61.7% of them enrol, against 35%.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 12.83% acceptance). Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #101-150). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $83K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $71,372 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 Notre Dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Boston University for: a higher world ranking, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 12.83% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1470).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $83K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 88.7%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $71,372); Boston University offers a larger average aid package ($69,396 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Boston University |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | #75 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 12.83% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 35% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.86 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 76,776 |
| International students | 7.5% | 20.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $83K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $57K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $122K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 88.7% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 94.2% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $23,250 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $71,372 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $69,396 |
| % of need met | 100% | 92% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $36,774 |
| Application fee | $85 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 36,977 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Boston University?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Boston University accepts 12.83%.
Do Notre Dame or Boston University graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Boston University?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $71,372 per year at Boston University.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Boston University?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1470 at Boston University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Boston University?
Boston University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #101-150 for Boston University.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Boston University?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $69,396 at Boston University.
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