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Boston University

Boston, MA·Private·~11% acceptance

Boston University is a private university in Boston, MA. It is highly selective, admitting about 11% of applicants. The average net price after aid is about $24,402 per year. About 89% of students graduate, and alumni earn a median of about $83,238 ten years after enrolling.

Average cost
$24,402/yr avg net price after aid
Full cost $86,285
Aid cuts ~$61,883/yr on average

Average across all aided students (U.S. College Scorecard). Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take the free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.

Deadlines
ED
Nov 2
EA
RD
Jan 5

ED and RD not confirmed with the college yet. Check their site before you rely on it.

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Your fit

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Admissions
GPA range3.5–4
SAT (middle 50%)1420–1530
ACT (middle 50%)32–34
Test policyTest optional
Programs
Computer Science
Data Science / Statistics
Information Systems / IT
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science
Outcomes
89%
graduation rate
95%
freshman retention
$65,655
median earnings, 6yr
$83,238
median earnings, 10yr
How Boston reads an application

What Boston values

Very important
Course rigorGrades (GPA)
Important
Class rankApplication essaysRecommendationsExtracurricularsTalent / abilityCharacter / personal qualities
Also considered
Test scoresFirst-generation statusAlumni relation (legacy)Geographic residenceVolunteer workWork experienceDemonstrated interest

From Boston’s Common Data Set. Put your effort where it counts most.

What Boston requires

Required
Grades (GPA)Course rigorCollege-prep programRecommendationsApplication essaysTOEFL / English proficiency
Considered
Class rankTest scoresWork experience

From federal IPEDS data — what Boston requires vs considers (not how heavily each is weighed).

Frequently asked questions
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
How much does Boston University cost?
At Boston University, the average net price after aid is about $24,402 per year, and the full cost of attendance is about $86,285 per year before aid. Your actual price depends on your family's income. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker for an estimate based on your numbers.
What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Boston University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score 1420–1530 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT.
What are Boston University's application deadlines?
Boston University's deadlines are Early Decision around Nov 2, Regular Decision around Jan 5. Always confirm exact dates on the school's official site.
What does Boston University value most in applicants?
In its most recent Common Data Set, Boston University rates Course rigor and Grades (GPA) as "very important" in admissions decisions, and also weighs Class rank, Application essays, Recommendations, Extracurriculars, Talent / ability, and Character / personal qualities. Take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see how your profile lines up.

See if Boston University is a fit for you

Two free steps: find your best-fit majors with the Discovery quiz, then run the College Matchmaker for your real admission odds and net price at Boston University, side by side with your other schools.