Boston University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 11%; Very selective
Average net price: $36,503; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 90%
Median earnings: $89,087; 10 years after enrolling

Boston University is a private nonprofit college in Boston, MA with 18,248 undergraduates. It admits 11% of applicants, and admitted students average 1480 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $36,503 per year ($16,336 for families earning under $30,000). 90% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $89,087 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 11%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 80,495; Fall 2023
Admitted: 8,733; Fall 2023
Yield: 36%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing690–750

200800

SAT Math730–780

200800

ACT Composite32–34

136

What Boston University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusNot considered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $90,106; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $71,372

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$16,336
$30–48k$39,763
$48–75k$52,880
$75–110k$70,352
$110k+$83,101

Get a personal estimate with Boston University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 90%
Freshman retention: 95%
Median earnings: $89,087; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $17,500; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 18,248
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1
Receive Pell grants: 21%

White32%
Hispanic12%
Black6%
Asian21%

Boston University FAQ

What is Boston University's acceptance rate?+

Boston University admits 11% of applicants, which makes it very selective.

What SAT score do you need for Boston University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 690–750 on SAT Reading and Writing and 730–780 on SAT Math; the average total is 1480.

What ACT score do you need for Boston University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 32–34.

Is Boston University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Boston University?+

In Fall 2023, 80,495 students applied to Boston University and 8,733 were admitted; 3,145 enrolled.

Does Boston University consider legacy status?+

No. Boston University reported that legacy status is not considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Boston University require an essay?+

Boston University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Boston University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $90,106 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,503.

What is Boston University's graduation rate?+

90% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 164988 · How we use this data