Boston, MA
Boston University traces its roots to the Newbury Biblical Institute, founded by abolitionist Methodists in 1839, and was officially chartered as Boston University in 1869 by founders Isaac Rich, Lee Claflin, and Jacob Sleeper. A private research university, BU joined the Association of American Universities in 2012 and today comprises 17 schools and colleges plus the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, offering more than 300 programs of study.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Boston University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 36% submitted SAT scores, 10% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 2, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 5, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 5, 2027
Confirm on Boston University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Boston University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Boston University weighs your application
From Boston University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What applicants who posted their results listed
90 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 37 admitted, 53 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.
Most common activities
Most common awards among admits
Who posted
The full breakdown, with what stood out: Boston University Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not Boston University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Boston University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Boston University look for in applicants?
Per Boston University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
Boston University in Boston, MA admits approximately 11% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Boston University?
Per Boston University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1420–1510 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Boston University?
Per Boston University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 33–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Boston University cost?
Boston University's total cost of attendance is reported at $86,285 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Boston University?
Boston University's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 2, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 5, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 5, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Boston University require students to live on campus?
No -- Boston University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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