Head to head · Massachusetts
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At $75–110k and below, Northeastern University is the cheaper of the two; from over $110k up, Boston University is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | Boston University | Northeastern University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,500 | $2,264 | $7,236 |
| $30–48k | $9,342 | $2,436 | $6,906 |
| $48–75k | $11,778 | $5,301 | $6,477 |
| $75–110k | $22,517 | $16,241 | $6,276 |
| Over $110k | $47,504 | $47,696 | $192 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate.
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
What are your student's real admit chances? The math, shown →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed Boston University first, then Northeastern University. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again Boston University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
Boston University — every income band · Northeastern University — every income band · All Massachusetts public colleges