Real Videos
Boston University (BU) vs. University of Massachusetts-Amherst Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to BU or UMass Amherst?“
Boston University (BU)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Boston University (BU) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Boston University (BU) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Boston University (BU) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Boston University (BU) | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $48,436 | $14,171 |
| Net Price | $34,910 | $18,869 |
| Average Financial Aid | $32,975 | $7,142 |
| Total Undergraduates | 16456 | 22405 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1200 - 1410 | 1130 - 1310 |
| Acceptance Rate | 33 | 58 |
| Location | One Silber Way | 374 Whitmore Building 181 Presidents Drive |
| City Name | Boston | Amherst |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Boston and Amherst. BU is in a New England and UMass Amherst is in a New England - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Boston University (BU) or University of Massachusetts-Amherst Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Boston University (BU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Boston University (BU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do BU Dorms Compare to housing Options at UMass Amherst?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. BU charges for on-campus living, while UMass Amherst charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
BU and UMass Amherst student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Boston University (BU), % | UMass Amherst,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 43.04 | 67.02 |
| Hispanic | 10.79 | 5.3100000000000005 |
| Black | 3.7699999999999996 | 3.7800000000000002 |
| Foreign | 20.49 | 3.9600000000000004 |
| Others | 21.9 | 19.9 |
How different is the Boston University (BU) campus compared to University of Massachusetts-Amherst campus?
The BU campus is located in Boston, MA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more). The UMass Amherst campus is located in Amherst, MA and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
BU provides $32,975 whereas UMass Amherst provides an average of $7,142.
How does BU academics compare to UMass Amherst?
When analyzing academics between Boston University (BU) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | BU | UMass Amherst |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 156 |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 130 |
| Architecture and related services | 10 | 126 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 9 | 17 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 593 | 306 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 145 | 206 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 382 | 456 |
| Education | 77 | 18 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Boston University (BU) or University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between BU and UMass Amherst. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does BU social life compare to UMass Amherst?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how BU social life differs from UMass Amherst.
Check here.
Check here.