Boston University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Niche: A+

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Sources and reporting periods

Reporting year unavailable: the displayed admission, score, cost, aid and outcome fields combine historical imports without a retained reporting year for each value. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

No current testing-policy source review is available for this campus.

Application deadlines · countdown

Add to my calendar

Working backwards from the first application deadline: ask for recommendations by Sep 6 (start now), first essay draft by Sep 20 (start now), lock final essay by Oct 18, submit by Oct 29.

Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

Boston University reported a 12.8% acceptance rate in its most recent imported IPEDS record. Boston University is a private nonprofit 4-year institution in Boston, MA, with an SAT reference of 1480 and an ACT reference of 33. The historical average net price is $24,402 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

12.8%

76,779 applicants

SAT reference

1480

Combined score

ACT reference

33

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$24,402

After financial aid

SAT & ACT Scores at Boston University

Historical score references from imported federal records for enrolled first-year score submitters. The SAT total references are a sum of section values, not observed total-score percentiles. The reference midpoint column is not a verified median, and none of these values is an admission cutoff. Reporting years are unavailable for these fields.

Test25th percentileReference midpoint75th percentile
SAT (total, 400–1600)140014801530
ACT (composite, 1–36)313334

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

89.3%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

94.7%

Median Earnings (10yr)

$83,238

Student Body

18,248

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at Boston University, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$9,500
$30,001 – $48,000$9,342
$48,001 – $75,000$11,778
$75,001 – $110,000$22,517
$110,000+$47,504

Top Majors at Boston University

MajorDegrees Awarded
Business, Management & Marketing768
Communication & Journalism598
Social Sciences589
Biological & Biomedical Sciences569
Computer & Information Sciences361
Engineering354
Psychology313
Health Professions236
Visual & Performing Arts156
Mathematics & Statistics110

Financial Aid at Boston University

About Boston University

Official website: https://www.bu.edu/

Admissions: https://www.bu.edu/admissions

Frequently Asked Questions About Boston University

What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?

The stored historical acceptance rate for Boston University is 13%. the reported applicant count is about 76,779. The reporting year is unavailable for this imported rate. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into Boston University?

The historical 13% acceptance rate suggests Boston University was highly competitive. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Boston University?

The imported historical records for Boston University include an SAT reference value of 1480 and an ACT reference value of 33. Reference values may be derived from reported score ranges; they are not verified medians or required cutoffs. Federal score ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Verify current testing requirements on the college's official admissions page.

How much does it cost to attend Boston University?

The stored historical average net price at Boston University is $24,402 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 55%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $42,000 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at Boston University?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for Boston University is 89%. its stored first-year retention rate is 95%; stored median earnings 10 years after enrollment are $83,238. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is Boston University test-optional?

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

When is the application deadline for Boston University?

Boston University's recorded application deadlines, shown on this cycle's calendar, are Early Decision on November 1, 2026, Regular Decision on January 4, 2027. Aid deadlines: Financial aid February 1, FAFSA June 30. These were recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and dates can change; confirm on Boston University's official admissions page. Admit Coach's Deadline Radar counts down to each date and adds them to your calendar.

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