Boston University is a private institution in Boston, MA with an acceptance rate of 11% and 17,850 students. The middle 50% of admitted students score 1400–1520 on the SAT and present an average GPA near 3.82. The average net price after financial aid is $26,996 per year.
About Boston University
A private 4-year urban university in Boston, MA.
Boston University is a college in Boston, MA. It enrolls roughly 17,850 students. The most recent acceptance rate is 11%. Admitted students typically score between 1400 and 1520 on the SAT.
Your chances at this school
A clear-eyed view of how your profile compares to admitted students — and the things that would move your odds the most.
Boston University is a reach school for the average admitted student profile. A reach for almost every applicant, including very strong ones. Here is what would make your application as competitive as possible.
Things that would move your odds the most
- Aim for an SAT of 1400+Hitting the 25th percentile puts you in the competitive range for admitted students.
- Maintain a GPA of 3.82 or higherAdmitted students typically present grades at or above this level.
- Build a single deep extracurricular peakDepth beats breadth at selective schools — one nationally-visible accomplishment outperforms ten clubs.
- Strengthen one teacher recommendationA specific, personal letter from a teacher who knows your work moves the needle.
Probability is based on a model trained on historical admissions data. It is a guide, not a guarantee. Admissions decisions weigh essays, recommendations, and fit factors that aren't in the data.
Admissions
What it actually takes to get into Boston University. Test scores, GPA, application requirements, and deadlines.
Admitted student profile
Range shown is the middle 50%.
Cost & financial aid
Published costs can be misleading. Here's what families actually pay at Boston University after grants and scholarships.
Net price by family income
Average amount paid out of pocket — tuition, fees, and room & board minus all grant aid.
Net price represents the average cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal financial aid.
Academics & majors
Where students at Boston University concentrate, and how the classroom experience scales.
Student body
Who attends Boston University. Enrollment, diversity, and where students come from.
Race & ethnicity
- White36%
- Asian22%
- Hispanic12%
- Black7%
- International24%
Gender
- Female65%
- Male35%
Outcomes after graduation
What Boston University graduates do next — and what they earn.
What this means
$83k is well above the national bachelor's-graduate median at the 10-year mark, and a 90% graduation rate puts Boston University in the top tier nationally.
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