ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites
Colleges / Boston University

Boston University

Boston, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate14%
Acceptance Rate14%

BU Admissions

It is very difficult to get into Boston University. The university admitted 14% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 80,796 students applied to Boston University and 11,607 were admitted.

If you are applying to Boston University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/4 and the application fee is $80.

Students who submit their applications to Boston University for the fall semester should anticipate a decision by April 1.

Boston University Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Boston University's admissions stats.

Boston University 2023 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.9
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 87%
Mean SAT Score 1418
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 23%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 12%
Waitlist Yes

Boston University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Boston University.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes November 1 December 15
Early Decision II Yes January 4 February 15
Early Action No
Regular Decision Yes 1 4 April 1

Applying Early to Boston University?


Boston University offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 4. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Boston University is 25%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 14%. In 2022, Boston University admitted 1599 of the 6309 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early to boost their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ Discover a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Boston University Admissions


Is Boston University Challenging To Get Into?

Getting into BU is very difficult. BU evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, BU accepted 14% of all applicants, approximately 11,607 from 80,796 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like BU, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT. Admissions to Kilichand Honors College is program extremely difficult.

Transferring to Boston University

It is very difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Boston University

In 2022, Boston University waitlisted 9,643 students and 5,899 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 3 eventually were offered a spot.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Boston University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Boston University

Wondering what factors are considered by Boston University during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Academic GPA Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities Important
Class Rank Important
Application Essay Important
Extracurricular Activities Important
Recommendation(s) Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
State Residency Considered
Volunteer Work Considered
Work Experience Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest Considered
First Generation Considered

Make sure to check with Boston University for more information on admission factors.

Boston University 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Boston University, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with Boston University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Other Requirements audition/ portfolio (Talent/ability is very important for College of Fine Arts applicants, otherwise not considered.)
Transcript(S) of College Record
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation 2
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Boston University?

Students admitted to Boston University have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

Out of all students that were admitted, 17% submitted a class rank. At Boston University 87% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 99% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Boston University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 38%
3.75 and 3.99 37%
3.50 and 3.74 24%
3.25 and 3.49 1%
3.00 and 3.24
2.50 and 2.9
2.00 and 2.49

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Boston University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Boston University is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 23% of Boston University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 12% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Boston University?

To be competitive with other Boston University applicants, you should strive to earn between 1370 and 1480 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Boston University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1480 and 25% of scored lower than 1370, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Boston University student is 1418.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Boston University students scored 770 or higher and 75% of students scored 660 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Boston University students scored 730 or higher, and 75% scored a 660 or higher.

To be most competitive at Boston University, you should strive to earn between 31 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Boston University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 31 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Boston University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 31.

More Information on Transferring to Boston University

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Boston University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15. Applicants should hear back by April 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Boston University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term


Boston University Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Boston University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Boston University.

Does Boston University accept transfer credits?

✅ Boston University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Boston University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Boston University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Boston University?

❌ No, Boston University is test optional, so you can decide whether or not to submit your test scores. If you have higher than average scores, you should strongly consider submitting them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Boston University's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Boston University is 14%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Boston University?

✅ Boston University's early decision acceptance rate was 25% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Boston University?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Boston University

Explore other colleges in Massachusetts or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

BU Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Very Selective

14%

How hard is it to get into BU? BU is a very selective institution. The BU acceptance rate is 14%. This means that the institution accepts 14 out of every 100 applicants.

--

BU Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 4

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to BU is Jan 4.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to BU is Mar 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

BU SAT Scores

ic_reflect

Composite SAT Range

1370 - 1480

ic_reflect

Math SAT Range

690 - 770

ic_reflect

Reading SAT Range

660 - 730

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1480 and Above

Good

1370 to 1480

Avg

1370 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for BU students is 1418. Applicants with SAT scores of 1480 and above have a good chance of being admitted to BU, while applicants with SAT scores between 1370 to 1480 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1370 have a low chance of being offered a spot at BU.

BU GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.88

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At BU, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.88. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

36,714

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

14%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$65,168

Out-of-State

$65,168

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 4
Find Your Scholarship

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

Find Scholarships
Do You Work at a University?

Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!

Claim Free Account
ECE68226-946A-49FB-9EBE-25C918B98643
Need Advice or Have a Question About BU?

Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.

Join the Conversation