How does Boston University compare to Fordham in admissions difficulty?

Boston University is harder to get into than Fordham overall. BU draws a larger national and international applicant pool, is typically viewed as more selective, and tends to be especially tough in high-demand areas like business, communications, and some combined or specialized programs. Fordham is still selective, but in most years it is a more attainable admit than BU for a similar applicant.

One big difference is applicant demand and profile strength. BU attracts a very broad pool from across the country and abroad, and many applicants are aiming for well-known programs in Questrom, COM, engineering, and health-related fields. That pushes up the level of competition even for strong students who would be quite viable at Fordham.

Another differentiator is how each school sits in the admissions landscape. BU is usually treated more like a reach or at least a high target for many applicants, while Fordham more often lands in the target range for students with similar academics. That does not mean Fordham is easy, especially for Gabelli or certain campuses, but it is less difficult on average.

Program structure also matters. At BU, your intended school or college can affect how challenging admission feels because some divisions are more crowded and academically intense. Fordham has variation too, especially between Rose Hill, Lincoln Center, and Gabelli, but the overall level of admissions pressure is still typically lower than at BU.