Boston University (BU) is a large private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a large university with approximately 36,000 students, including a significant international student population. Admissions are competitive with an acceptance rate of roughly 11%. Some of the most popular majors are Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Professions, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate six years after starting at BU is around 89%, and the median salary of BU graduates is close to INR 61,00,000 (after ten years of graduation, adjusted from ~$72,500). BU is especially famous for its research, professional programs, and urban opportunities in Boston.
College of the Holy Cross is a private liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is much smaller, with about 3,200 students. Admissions are competitive with an acceptance rate of around 21%. Some of the most popular majors are Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Biology, and English. The graduation rate after six years is high, at around 92%, and Holy Cross alumni have a median income of around INR 64,00,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from ~$76,000). Holy Cross is ranked nationally by its liberal arts education, intimate faculty-student relationship, and powerful alumni network.
| Boston University | College of Holy Cross | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 4 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 51 Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 # 76 Times Higher Education 2026 # 88 QS World University 2026 | # 446 Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 # 1539 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 1096 Center for World University Rankings 2022 |
| Subject Strength | # 91 for Engineering by Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 # 38 for Medicine by Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 # 53 for Law by Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | - |
| Programs | UG Programs -87 PG Programs -107 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -24 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.0 % | 21.0 % |
| Exam Score | - | Duolingo-120 IELTS-7 SAT-1260 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 58560 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 15450 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 27900 [For UG Program] Hostel + Meal - 8875 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 96% of graduates employed within 6 months of graduation.Top recruiters: Brigham’s and Women’s Hospital; Wayfair LLC; Children’s Hospital, Boston; Amazon; Apple; Tesla; U.S. Department of State; Nike.
| Some of the sectors and the average salary offered to the graduates are:
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| application requirements | Academic transcripts; English proficiency results; documentation of financial support; Standardized Tests (ACT/ SAT are optional); 2-3 LORs; Resume; Written Statement; Teacher Evaluation; Additional Requirements (portfolios; audition; medical requirements, etc.) | Submit official transcripts Submit English language requirements Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 15 reviews | - |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Boston University | College of Holy Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | College |
| Established | 1839 | 1843 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1:1 | 10:1 |
| Male:Female | 41% Male, 0% Female | 49% Male, 51% Female |
| Location Facts | 3 campuses; main campus situated along Charles River in Fenway- Kenmore & Allston neighborhood; BU Medical Campus in the South End neighborhood of Boston; Fenway Campus in the Riverway area near South Campus. | Holy Cross is marked by an irregular layout as its 175-acre (0.71 km2) campus is situated on the northern slope of a very steep hill named Mount Saint James, which offers it a panoramic view of the city of Worcester. The Princeton Review ranked the campus as #5 most beautiful campus in the nation in 2010 and consistently ranks the campus in the top 15. The design and landscape is ingrained into many themes and nicknames for the school which is commonly known as The Hill. The 37 college buildings include residential housing and academic buildings in the middle sections of the campus and athletic and practice facilities on the outskirts on its northern and southern ends. Holy Cross also owns six non-campus properties |
| Library | BU Library System consists of 21 libraries; houses 2.4 million physical volumes, over 45,000 current unique serials, 77,000 media titles; Mugar Memorial Library is the main library with other several specialized libraries with area-specific research collections. |
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| Campus Life | 500+ student clubs; fitness center; Agganis Arena (art entertainment complex); FitRec (270,000 sq foot fitness & recreation center); BU Beach; Morse Auditorium (Theatre); Marsh Chapel; Photonics Center; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL); BU Bridge | College of the Holy Cross offers a number of student services, including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, health insurance. College of the Holy Cross also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc.). Of the students at College of the Holy Cross, 25% have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at College of the Holy Cross. |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food - $15450 | #Standard Room - $4950 |
| Famous Alumni | 390,700+ living alumni; 8 Nobel Laureates; 23 Pulitzer Prize winners; 10 Rhodes Scholars; 6 Marshall Scholars; 48 Sloan Fellows; 9 Academy Award winners; several Emmy & Tony Award winners; Martin Luther King, Jr. (American Civil Rights Movement leader); PSY (South Korean singer); Genna Davis (American actress); Bill O'Reilly (American journalist and TV host) | Notable alumni include "Hardball" host Chris Matthews; Jon Favreau, former director of speechwriting for President Obama; and, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. |
| City Life | Boston- world leader in higher education because of several colleges & universities in the area; 12th largest economy in the world (majorly based on finance, professional & business services, biotechnology, IT, government activities, etc.); Popular tourist attractions include: Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, Beacon Hill, Harvard Square, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, New England Aquarium; Unemployment rate- 2.9% (Sept 2022). | Worcester offers a great opportunity to own or rent, raise a family or live independently. Worcester is a city that offers the best of both large and small cities with its affordable housing; quality public schools; many colleges and universities; access to diverse culture, sports, restaurants and entertainment; and reliable local and regional transportation. Worcester is home to 8 colleges and universities. The Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts allows member universities and colleges in the Greater Worcester area to share resources, provide diverse courses to students of other member schools and further expand the possibilities for students. With such a great educational presence, Worcester's higher education industry is one of the City's proudest assets. |
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Boston university vs College of Holy Cross
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Boston University (BU) is internationally ranked as a large private research university, placed approximately 88 in QS World University Rankings 2026. Boston University is strong in business, law, communications, engineering, international relations, and health sciences.College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, is not ranked internationally in like manner but is well regarded in U.S. national rankings, frequently appearing in the top 30 liberal arts colleges. It excels in undergraduate liberal arts education, humanities, social sciences, and pre-professional preparation.
General Information
BU, established in 1839, possesses a vast urban Boston campus consisting of more than 37,000 students, both graduate and undergraduate. It focuses on global learning and professional development.Holy Cross, established in is a smaller, undergraduate-only college with approximately 3,100 students, providing an intimate liberal arts setting with Jesuit traditions.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
BU is extremely selective with an approximate acceptance rate of 11%, drawing from a diverse international pool of candidates.Holy Cross is extremely selective with an acceptance rate of approximately 21%, appealing to students who desire a rigorous liberal arts education with strong values-based learning.
Research Impact & Facilities
BU is an R1 research university with widespread research output in sciences, medicine, and engineering, supplemented by professional schools.
Holy Cross emphasizes undergraduate education over research at the broad scale, with small classes, intensive faculty mentoring, and student research opportunities in the humanities and sciences.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both institutions have tuition rates in the USD 62,000–65,000 per annum range.BU offers a combination of need-based and merit-based aid, whereas Holy Cross is mostly need-based, consistent with its Jesuit ideals of affordability.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
BU alumni are also very prominent in business, law, medicine, international relations, and communications, drawing from BU's urban location and global connections.
Holy Cross alumni tend to enter law, education, public service, business, and healthcare, with a particular strength in graduating leaders in policy and service-related fields. Although BU has a larger and more internationally networked alumni group, Holy Cross provides a close-knit community with extensive alumni support for undergraduates pursuing graduate school or professional careers.
