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Boston University
Boston University admits 11 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Boston University, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Boston University sits in Boston proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 21.2% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $136,667 four years out. Faculty pay averages $199,476 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 18,248 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 94.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1400 and 1520 — above the MA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Boston University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Boston University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1400–1520 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Boston University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 680 | 710 | 740 |
| SAT Math | 720 | 760 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 33 | 34 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Boston University received 80,495 applications and admitted 8,733 (10.8%), with 3,145 enrolling.
How Boston University compares
| Boston University | Massachusetts median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 11.1% | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,102 | $46,700 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $62,832 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Boston University student earns $83,238 — 32% above the Massachusetts median of $62,832 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Boston University lists tuition at $68,102 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Boston University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $68,102 as the ceiling, not the bill.
18,248 undergraduates make Boston University a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
88.7% of Boston University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 33.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $68,102 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Boston University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $136,667 |
| Computer Engineering | $135,394 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $110,622 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $108,412 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $99,024 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $98,953 |
| Economics | $96,723 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,757 |
| Mathematics | $84,784 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $83,413 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $82,302 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $80,306 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $78,431 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $72,809 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $72,566 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $68,888 |
| Philosophy | $68,026 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $66,661 |
| Political Science and Government | $66,373 |
| Journalism | $65,617 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $64,112 |
| Psychology, General | $63,838 |
| Sociology | $63,791 |
| Social Work | $63,594 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $62,342 |
| Biology, General | $61,610 |
| History | $59,986 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $59,858 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $58,564 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $57,967 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $57,294 |
| Education, General | $56,556 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $55,804 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $55,066 |
| Education, Other | $54,883 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $54,766 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,044 |
| Anthropology | $53,722 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $51,086 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $49,538 |
| Music | $39,426 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,322 |
Median earnings for these 42 Boston University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $83,238 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 37 additional Boston University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Boston University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1400–1520 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 11.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
10.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,733 admitted from 80,495 applicants.
How much does Boston University cost?
At Boston University, published tuition is $68,102 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Boston University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Boston University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $83,238 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
- Amherst College — 9% admitted
- Harvard University — 3.6% admitted
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — 4.5% admitted
- Northeastern University — 5.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.