Boston University
A large private research university stretched along Commonwealth Avenue and the Charles River, in the middle of Boston.
- Acceptance rate
- 13%
- Class of 2029 (entered fall 2025)
- Students
- 36,977
- 18,289 undergraduates
- International
- 21%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 10:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $73,024
- 2026-27
About BU
Boston University traces its founding to 1839 and today is one of the largest private universities in the US, with 36,977 students in fall 2025, split almost evenly between 18,289 undergraduates and 18,688 graduate and professional students. Its main Charles River Campus runs for more than a mile along Commonwealth Avenue between the river and the Fenway, so the city itself is the campus. BU is a member of the Association of American Universities and reports 547 million dollars in research awards.
Undergraduates enter one of BU's schools and colleges: Arts and Sciences (including the Pardee School of Global Studies), Communication, Engineering, Fine Arts (music, theatre and visual arts), the two-year College of General Studies, the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, Questrom School of Business, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Hospitality Administration, and Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. Every student follows the BU Hub, a university-wide general education program that lets students choose how to meet its requirements.
BU is a good fit for students who want a serious research university with an unmistakably urban life, strong communication, business and health-science programs, and a large international community: 21% of the Class of 2029 is international. It has become much more selective in recent years, and early decision now fills a majority of the class.
Learning, Virtue, Piety
University motto
Why students choose BU
The BU Promise (from 2026-27) meets 100% of demonstrated need for US first-years without loans, and families earning 75,000 dollars or less with typical assets pay nothing.
The College of Communication, Questrom School of Business and Sargent College give pre-professional tracks inside a full research university.
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program funds faculty-mentored research, and BU offers more than 170 study abroad opportunities.
The university reports that 95% of graduates were employed or in graduate programs, military service or fellowships within six months.
Admissions
Class of 2029 (entered fall 2025)
About 1 in 8 applicants is admitted
9,853 admitted from 76,776 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
In the CDS, 6,907 applied Early Decision and 2,165 were admitted (about 31%); 59% of the enrolled class of 3,450 came through Early Decision. International applicants were admitted at about 16% (2,521 of 15,794).
Typical entry requirements
| Engineering applicants | One year of calculus required |
|---|---|
| Questrom School of Business applicants | One year of calculus, or a year of precalculus plus a year of AP Statistics |
| College of Fine Arts applicants | Audition or portfolio required in addition to the Common App |
| English language | IELTS 7 · TOEFL iBT 90 TOEFL iBT composite of at least 90-100 with 20 in each section (5.0 or higher on the new scale for reports from January 21, 2026); IELTS Academic 7; Duolingo 125-135 for competitive applicants. Waivers are at the discretion of the Board of Admissions. |
Deadlines
- Early Decision I Binding Next deadline · In 27 daysNovember 2, 2026
Decisions December 15. Financial aid documents (CSS Profile and FAFSA, US applicants) also due November 2.
- Early Decision II Binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Decisions February 9.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Decisions March 28. International applicants seeking merit scholarships should check the December 1 scholarship deadline.
Dates from BU's first-year deadlines page for fall 2027 entry. No early action option.
How to apply
Common App or QuestBridge Application ($80 fee, waivers available): Common App personal statement plus the Boston University supplemental essay, official transcript, school report and counselor recommendation, one teacher evaluation, and first-quarter senior grades (regular decision applicants also send first-semester grades). College of Fine Arts applicants add an audition or portfolio.
What admissions looks for
- Strong academic performance in a demanding curriculum; 86% of the Class of 2029 ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.
- Program-specific preparation, such as calculus for engineering and business applicants.
- A personal statement and BU supplemental essay that show who you are and why BU.
- Recommendations from a counselor and a teacher who know your work.
- Talent in auditions or portfolios for the College of Fine Arts.
Tips for applying to BU
- 1 Early Decision matters at BU: about 31% of ED applicants were admitted for fall 2025 versus under 13% overall, and ED filled 59% of the class.
- 2 If you are aiming for engineering or Questrom, make sure your transcript shows the required calculus (or precalculus plus AP Statistics for Questrom).
- 3 Because BU is test-optional, submit scores only if they sit comfortably in or above the 1420-1510 SAT range of enrolled students who sent them.
- 4 International applicants cannot get need-based aid; if you need funding, apply for merit scholarships by the December 1 deadline.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Boston University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
From 2026-27 the BU Promise meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for first-year US citizens and permanent residents; families with incomes below 200,000 dollars and typical assets pay no more than 20,000 dollars a year, and those at 75,000 dollars or less pay nothing. International students are not eligible for need-based aid but are considered for competitive merit scholarships.
- Net cost $0
- Family income up to $75,000 (typical assets)
- Net cost $10,000 or less
- Family income $75,001-$100,000
- Net cost $15,000 or less
- Family income $100,001-$150,000
- Net cost $20,000 or less
- Family income $150,001-$200,000
- $1,570
- Required fees 2026-27
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
College of Communication
A stand-alone undergraduate college for communication fields inside a large research university, with Boston's media market on the doorstep.
Questrom School of Business
Direct-entry undergraduate business school with a specific math prerequisite for admission.
Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Undergraduate health-science pathways in a university with its own medical and dental schools.
Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences
Housed in the Center for Computing and Data Sciences tower beside the BU Bridge, it brings computing and data science together across disciplines.
College of Fine Arts
Schools of Music, Theatre and Visual Arts with audition- and portfolio-based admission; alumni include several Academy Award winners.
Research
- 547 million dollars in research awards, per BU's admissions facts page.
- Member of the Association of American Universities.
- The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program funds faculty-mentored undergraduate research.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
- College of Communication
- College of Engineering
- College of Fine Arts
- College of General Studies
- Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences
- Questrom School of Business
- Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
- School of Hospitality Administration
- Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
BU reports that 95% of graduates found employment or placement in graduate programs, military service or fellowships within six months of graduation.
Student life
BU has no gates: the campus is Commonwealth Avenue, with the Green Line trolley running down the middle and the Charles River on one side. Students live in a mix of high-rise towers and brownstones and spend a lot of time in the wider city, from Fenway Park next door to internships across Boston. Athletics compete in the Patriot League, but hockey in Hockey East and the Beanpot tournament against other Boston schools are the big draws. With students from 111 countries, the community is highly international.
- Men's and women's ice hockey in Hockey East, including the annual Beanpot tournament.
- NCAA Division I athletics in the Patriot League.
- Students from 111 countries and 47 states.
- More than 170 study abroad opportunities.
Housing. Resident students are budgeted $20,740 for housing and food in 2026-27.
Location
BU sits in the heart of Boston, between the Charles River and Kenmore Square, a short trolley ride from downtown and the Back Bay. Boston is a dense, walkable student city with dozens of colleges, a big biotech and finance economy, and easy transit. Winters are cold and snowy; autumn and spring are the best seasons.
Nearest airport: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Notable alumni
- ML Martin Luther King Jr.Civil rights leader; Nobel Peace Prize 1964 (PhD, School of Theology)
- DW Drew WeissmanNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for mRNA vaccine research
- JL Jhumpa LahiriPulitzer Prize for Fiction for Interpreter of Maladies
- JM Julianne MooreAcademy Award-winning actress
- FD Faye DunawayAcademy Award-winning actress (Network)
- HJ Ha JinNovelist; National Book Award for Waiting
- JB Joan BaezFolk singer and activist
- TH Tyler HicksPulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist
Frequently asked questions
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
For the Class of 2029 (fall 2025), BU admitted 9,853 of 76,776 first-year applicants, about 12.8%. Early Decision applicants were admitted at a much higher rate.
Is Boston University test-optional?
Yes, through fall 2028 and spring 2029 entry. Enrolled students who submitted scores had a middle-50% SAT of 1420-1510 and ACT of 33-34.
When are BU's application deadlines?
Early Decision I is November 2, 2026; Early Decision II and Regular Decision are January 5, 2027.
Does BU give financial aid to international students?
Not need-based aid. International applicants are considered for competitive merit scholarships, which require applying by December 1.
How much does Boston University cost?
For 2026-27, tuition is $73,024 and the full cost of attendance for a student living on campus is $98,419. Under the BU Promise, US families earning $75,000 or less with typical assets pay nothing.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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