Admit rate has ranged 11%–20% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Boston University is a high-powered, urban research university that blends Ivy-level rigor with the kinetic energy of its namesake city. With a 12.8% acceptance rate and an average SAT of 1466, BU attracts academically driven students who thrive in its decentralized, cosmopolitan campus culture. Its 300+ degree programs—from aerospace engineering to acting—are taught by Fulbright scholars and Rhodes winners, yielding strong outcomes: 90% graduation rates and early-career earnings averaging $53,000.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
18,248
In-state tuition
$68,102
Out-of-state tuition
$68,102
Grad Rate
90%
Enrollment
17,628 undergrads
Acceptance Rate
12.8% (2029)
Early Career Earnings
$53,000
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
International Students
24%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$83,238
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.4×
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
89%
First-year retention
95%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
82%
Pell (lower-income) share
36%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$193,370
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$84,994
Computer Engineering$82,440
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$70,829
Mechanical Engineering$68,858
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$67,660
Business Administration, Management and Operations$60,597
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
20
Per 1,000 students
1.10
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
49"
Annual snow
31.4"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,350
Scholarly works
198,624
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Future-scholar output
Science & engineering PhDstop 34 nationally
Humanities & social-science PhDstop 37 nationally
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?
Boston University's acceptance rate is approximately 11% (Boston, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University?
Admitted students at Boston University typically score 1420–1530 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Boston University cost?
At Boston University, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,402 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Boston University?
Boston University enrolls approximately 18,248 undergraduate students.
Where is Boston University located?
Boston University is located in Boston, MA.
Admissions
BU's admissions process is fiercely competitive, with a 12.8% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for the Class of 2029. The middle 50% of admitted students boast SAT scores of 1420–1510 (1466 average) and ACT scores of 33–34, while 87% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Early Decision applicants comprised 59% of the enrolled class, with binding deadlines of January 15 (ED1) and February 15 (ED2). Notably, applicants to the College of General Studies (CGS) are evaluated separately—admission to CGS doesn't guarantee transfer to other colleges like CAS or Engineering.
BU offers an academic smorgasbord: 300+ degree programs across 17 schools, from a BFA in Acting at the College of Fine Arts to a BS in Aerospace Engineering. The most popular majors cluster in engineering (8%), psychology (7%), and health professions (5%), but the curriculum is notably flexible—students can pursue dual degrees or combined BA/MA programs. Faculty include Rhodes Scholars and Presidential Award winners, with introductory courses often taught by senior professors. The university's academic reputation has surged recently, with Reddit users noting its 'incredible improvement in admission and outcome metrics' over the past decade.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Economics$53,454
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$52,107
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
2.0%
Bottom → top quintile
50%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
BU's urban campus along Commonwealth Avenue lacks the insular quad vibe of traditional colleges—students describe it as 'a mosaic like no other' with 500+ clubs and a socially decentralized culture. Greek life exists but isn't dominant (only 15% participation), and the social scene leans toward intellectual pursuits, city exploration, and niche student groups. The student body is remarkably diverse: 24% international students, with a linguistic and cultural mix that reflects Boston's global character. As one Redditor put it: 'We don’t have one campus culture... you can make friends pretty easily even if you aren’t the party type.'
BU delivers strong ROI: a 90% six-year graduation rate (92% for women, 87% for men) and median early-career earnings of $53,000—$6,000 above the national average for similar institutions. The payback period is just 4.9 years, with 94% of graduates employed or in grad school within six months. Engineering and business majors typically outearn peers in liberal arts, but even the latter benefit from BU's strong alumni network in Boston's tech, healthcare, and finance sectors. The Career Development office tracks outcomes meticulously, with recent surveys showing 82% of grads landing jobs directly related to their majors.
At $82,760 total annual cost (2024), BU isn't cheap—but 43% of students receive Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements., bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $28,985. The MyinTuition calculator provides quick estimates, with typical aid packages covering 60-80% of demonstrated need. Merit scholarships are rare; most aid is need-based, with grants (not loans) comprising 85% of the average $68,216 aid package. Notably, BU meets 100% of demonstrated need for domestic students, though international applicants face stricter aid limitations.
BU distinguishes itself through three key attributes:
1. Urban Academics: Its integration with Boston—through internships at Mass General Hospital, research partnerships with MIT, and alumni networks in finance/tech—creates unparalleled professional opportunities. 2. Flexible Rigor: The 300+ programs allow students to combine, say, neuroscience with music performance, all while learning from faculty who've won Nobel Prizes and Tonys. 3. Global Vibe: With 24% international students and language departments covering Swahili to Kazakh, BU feels more like a U.N. assembly than a typical American campus.
As one alum noted: 'At BU, you're not just attending a university—you're inheriting a global city as your campus.'
Boston University logo · sourceBU Charles River Campus Marks 100th Anniversary | BU Today | Boston University · sourceLife in Boston | Questrom School of Business · sourceCampaign for BU: Campus Transformed | Bostonia | Boston University · source
