Do employers generally view Harvard as more prestigious than Boston University?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that Harvard’s name carries broader instant recognition on an initial résumé screen, while Boston University offers a well-regarded degree and strong access to Boston employers without the same universal prestige signal. In broad employer perception, Harvard is viewed as more prestigious than BU, both nationally and internationally. That difference is most noticeable in highly selective fields and early-career recruiting, where a Harvard credential may draw faster attention before an employer has much else to evaluate.

Boston University is still a respected private research university with a large alumni presence, especially in Boston, New York, and fields such as communications, business, health, education, and technology. Employers who recruit regularly in the region know BU well, and strong internships, academic performance, relevant skills, and interviewing will matter far more than the name difference for most roles. By the time you have meaningful work experience, employers tend to focus much more on your record than on undergraduate prestige.

Harvard is the clearer choice when the overall packages are comparable; BU can be the more sensible choice when it is substantially more affordable or offers a distinctly better academic and personal fit.