Boston University vs. Washington University in St. Louis: Which Offers Better Merit Aid?

The biggest practical difference is that Boston University’s most prominent merit awards are relatively few and clearly tiered, while Washington University in St. Louis offers several named scholarship programs and a wider range of possible merit awards. At WashU, merit scholarships can range from smaller annual awards to full tuition, and its signature programs include the Danforth, Ervin, and Rodriguez Scholars programs.

Neither school’s full-tuition merit awards normally eliminate housing, meals, books, travel, and personal expenses, so a “full scholarship” may still leave a meaningful annual cost. BU’s Trustee award is especially valuable because it includes mandatory fees in addition to tuition, but it is exceptionally selective. BU’s Presidential Scholarship is substantial but, given BU’s high overall cost, it will not by itself make attendance inexpensive for most families.

WashU’s larger menu of named merit pathways can give a strong applicant more ways to be considered, although its top awards are also highly competitive and not guaranteed to cover non-tuition costs. Both institutions typically require applicants to meet earlier scholarship deadlines and submit any required scholarship materials on time; those deadlines and program instructions should be checked for the current admission cycle.