How do Carnegie Mellon and Boston University compare in college admissions selectivity for undergraduate applicants?

Carnegie Mellon is typically more selective overall than Boston University for undergraduate applicants. That gap is especially noticeable in CMU’s most sought-after colleges, such as School of Computer Science, Engineering, and some arts programs, where admission can be extremely competitive even for very strong students. Boston University is also a highly competitive private university, but in a head-to-head comparison, it is usually the less selective of the two overall.

For a student aiming at Carnegie Mellon, the admissions bar often feels closer to a reach unless the application is exceptionally strong and very well aligned with a specific school within CMU. CMU admissions can vary a lot by division, so applying to computer science is not the same as applying to Dietrich, Mellon College of Science, or Tepper. That school-by-school structure matters because some programs are far harder to enter than the university’s overall reputation alone might suggest.

Boston University fits applicants looking at a large, urban, academically strong university where admission is still difficult but somewhat broader across colleges and majors. BU evaluates students seriously across the board, yet it usually does not have the same level of intensity as CMU’s top specialized programs. For many applicants, BU may sit in the reach-to-target range depending on grades, course rigor, and testing, while CMU more often stays in reach territory.

If you are building a list based on admissions odds alone, treat Carnegie Mellon as the tougher admit in most cases. I would be especially cautious about assuming CMU is comparable to BU if you are considering CS, engineering, drama, or design, since those CMU options can be in a different tier of selectivity.