Boston University
Boston, MA · Private
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Boston University admitted 11.1% of applicants university-wide (8,749 of 78,769).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 11.1% | 8,749 | 78,769 |
| Early Decision (binding) | 28.2% | 1,936 | 6,854 |
| Men | 11.5% | 3,492 | 30,456 |
| Women | 11.1% | 4,975 | 44,822 |
Early Decision applicants were admitted at 28.2%, vs 11.1% overall — ED is a binding commitment.
Of 8,749 admitted students, 3,268 enrolled (37.4% yield).
Boston University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C1–C2 · 2024 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1430–1510
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 32–34
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 3.75–4.00
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Boston University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $90,207/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $66,670 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $23,537 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $90,207/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $9,500 |
| $30k–48k | $9,342 |
| $48k–75k | $11,778 |
| $75k–110k | $22,517 |
| Over $110k | $47,504 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Presidential Scholarship — $25,000 per year (Presidential)
- College of Engineering FIRST Robotics Scholarship — $20,000 per year (Merit)
- Kilachand Honors College Scholarship — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- National Merit Scholarship (BU-sponsored) — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- BU Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- Trustee Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- Presidential Scholarship — $25,000 per year (Presidential)
- College of Engineering FIRST Robotics Scholarship — $20,000 per year (Merit)
- Kilachand Honors College Scholarship — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- Trustee Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
Boston University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024
Application requirements
US applicants
- Common Application
- Standardized Tests (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- CSS Profile
- FAFSA
- Application fee
International applicants
- Common Application
- Standardized Tests (SAT/ACT) (optional)
- CSS Profile
- FAFSA
- Application fee
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Boston University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
Boston University requires essays, but this cycle's prompts haven't been posted yet. Check back once the application opens.
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $83,238
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 88.7%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 95%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $23,250
- At graduation
Boston University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News National: #42
- WSJ: #160
- Forbes: #45
- Niche: #38
- QS: #88
Deadlines
- 2026-11-01Early Decision — Binding early round
- 2027-01-05Regular Decision — Standard deadline
Boston University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C21–C22 · 2024
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Business & marketing (16%), Social sciences (14%), Biological & life sciences (12%).
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1 · 59% of class sections have under 20 students.
Boston University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.