Head to head · Massachusetts
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At $48–75k and below, Boston University is the cheaper of the two; from $75–110k up, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | Boston University | University of Massachusetts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,500 | $10,164 | $664 |
| $30–48k | $9,342 | $10,456 | $1,114 |
| $48–75k | $11,778 | $12,932 | $1,154 |
| $75–110k | $22,517 | $18,964 | $3,553 |
| Over $110k | $47,504 | $30,793 | $16,711 |
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. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
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The brag sheet: what to hand a teacher before asking for a recommendation →
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 University of Massachusetts. 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 · University of Massachusetts-Amherst — every income band · All Massachusetts public colleges