Acceptance rate
11.1%
Boston University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate
Boston University is a private institution in Boston with an enrollment of 36,714 students. It has an 11.1% acceptance rate and requires strong test scores (SAT 1420–1530). The school excels in Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, and Communications. Graduates earn a median of $83,238 ten years after enrollment, with a 89% six-year graduation rate.
Enrollment
36,714
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
89%
Will you get into Boston University?
Enter your GPA, SAT & ACT and get your personal admission probability — free, no credit card.
Calculate my chances →◴ Admitted Student Profile
The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.
SAT (combined)
1420 – 1530
ACT (composite)
32 – 34
GPA
Not published
$ What You'll Actually Pay
Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).
$0–30k
$9,500
family income
$30–48k
$9,342
family income
$48–75k
$11,778
family income
$75–110k
$22,517
family income
$110k+
$47,504
family income
19% receive Pell grants
23% take federal loans
✦ Strongest Programs
The fields Boston University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.
Business & Marketing
17.2%
Social Sciences
13.9%
Communications
12.6%
Biology
11.9%
Computer Science
8.1%
↗ Outcomes
School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.
Earnings (10 yr)
$83,238
Earnings (6 yr)
$65,655
Completion
89%
Retention
95%
Median debt
$23,250
? Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?
Boston University has an acceptance rate of 11.1%, making it highly selective.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1420 and 1530 on the SAT. The ACT range is 32–34.
How much does Boston University actually cost?
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $9,500 per year, rising to $47,504 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.
What are my chances of getting into Boston University?
Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.
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Get my free odds →Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.