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Boston , MA
Boston University is a renowned private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1839, it is one of the largest independent universities in the United States, enrolling over 35,000 students from all around the world. With its diverse and vibrant campus, BU offers a wide range of academic programs across its 17 schools and colleges. It is particularly renowned for its strong programs in business, law, engineering, communications, and health sciences.
BU boasts a faculty of distinguished professors who are experts in their respective fields and are dedicated to providing a world-class education to their students. The university is committed to fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research and participate in internships, co-op programs, and study abroad opportunities, enabling them to gain practical experience and expand their global perspective.
Apart from its strong academic foundation, BU offers a vibrant campus life with over 450 student organizations, clubs, and sports teams. The university also hosts numerous cultural events, concerts, and guest lectures, providing a diverse and inclusive environment for students to succeed academically and personally. Located in the heart of Boston, students have access to a city full of history, culture, and career opportunities. Whether strolling through the historic Freedom Trail, visiting world-class museums, or enjoying the local cuisine, BU students have endless opportunities to enrich their college experience.
Boston University is a private university located in Boston, MA and set in an urban environment. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 11%. The freshman retention rate at Boston University is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 5. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Boston University.
Quick Facts
18,805
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,870
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Check out some essential info about admission at Boston University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,749 in 2025. Boston University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Boston University provides a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 33% and ACT scores 10%. 79% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 19% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 85, 9 between 24-29 and 6 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Boston University.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to Boston University is January 5. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Boston University was 95%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 37,737 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 78% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 18,805, 3869 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 915.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 12,030 male and 16,586 female full-time students in 2025. 4,905 full-time graduate men and 6,612 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 3,750 Asian students and 1,080 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,089 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 861 identified with more than one race. The school also had 17 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 694 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Boston University? Here is what you need to know.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $69,870 in 2025. As Boston University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,502.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial factor. Most students have to spend about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Boston University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Boston University amounted to $19,970 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $12,790, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,790.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,870 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,970 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,840 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Boston University.
The most recent records show that 1,172 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $62,183.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 7,558 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 7,644. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $25,432,763, and state $2,966,129. The students of Boston University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $404,785,765, and external in the amount of $3,441,218.
$32,831
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,965 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 314 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $25,432,763 while the state aid is $1,288,641. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $27,211,152. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $6,945,257 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Boston University was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 2,861 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 1,552 men and 1,309 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Boston University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about students' life at Boston University.
It has a campus size of 140 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
This school has 446 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is International Affairs Association, followed by Queer Activist Collective and Asian Student Unionno. Other popular student organizations at this school are African Student Organization and Student Government.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Boston University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a passion for media and communication? Boston University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Boston University offers a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Boston University.
All in all, campus life at Boston University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Boston University.
Career Counselling
At Boston University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 67,597 USD.
$67,597
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Boston University is located in Boston, MA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Boston University is 69,870 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Boston University is 11%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Boston University is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
