Boston University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About Boston University
School Type: Private
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: Yes
Accreditation: regional
Boston University is a large private university located on an urban campus in Boston, Massachusetts. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,229, and admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 19%. The university offers 115 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 89%, and a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Tuition and fees for students are $58,560.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
19% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
94% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
89% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scoresConsidered (not required)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankRequired
Letter of recommendationRequired
High school GPARequired
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentImplied no
Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile31-34
SAT 25th-75th Percentile1360-1520
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
37k
Students enrolled
15%
Online student enrollment
11:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
37%
Unknown
5%
Black
4%
Hispanic
9%
Two or more races
3%
Non-U.S. Citizen
27%
Asian
15%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
20% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
33
Total Online Enrollment
5,442
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.15% online, 85% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
93% On-campus
7% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor's1% online
Graduate Certificate4% online
Master's15% online
Doctorate4% online
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
20%
State Grant Aid
4%
Institution Grant Aid
53%
Pell Grant
20%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$23k
Average student debtafter graduation
$53k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Basketball
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Swimming Diving
- Tennis
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Softball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architecture And Related Services. | |||
| 2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies. | |||
| 3 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 4 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 5 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 6 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 7 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 8 | Culinary, Entertainment, And Personal Services. | |||
| 9 | Education. | |||
| 10 | Engineering. | |||
| 11 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 12 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 13 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 14 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences. | |||
| 15 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 16 | History | |||
| 17 | History. | |||
| 18 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 19 | Legal Professions And Studies. | |||
| 20 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 21 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 22 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 23 | Personal And Culinary Services. | |||
| 24 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 25 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 26 | Psychology. | |||
| 27 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 28 | Security And Protective Services. | |||
| 29 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 30 | Theology And Religious Vocations. | |||
| 31 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.