Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts · Private · 18,248 undergraduates · bu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
13%
of 76,776 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1420 to 1510
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$102,120Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Boston University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
13% of applicants admitted
Reach
It admits only 13% of applicants, so it's a reach for everyone.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$102,120
a year in 2027-28, from a $102,120 sticker price
What to do with your 1470
Send your score
About 56% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1360, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Boston University’s Standardized Test Policy · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov2Early Decision · November 2, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Dec1Priority deadline · December 1, 2026Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Jan5Early Decision II · January 5, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan5Regular Decision · January 5, 2027The standard deadline.
Source: Important Deadlines | Admissions
Who gets in
13%
of applicants were admitted: 9,853 of 76,776 for fall 2025.
Early Decision
Binding. 31% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
16,135 students were offered a spot; 479 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 36% of them sent SAT scores and 10% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1420 to 1510
Reading and Writing 700 to 750
Math 720 to 780
ACT composite 33 to 34
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160088%
- 1200 to 139911%
- 1000 to 11990%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.86
- 4.036%
- 3.75 to 3.9936%
- 3.50 to 3.7427%
- 3.25 to 3.491%
- 3.00 to 3.240%
- 2.50 to 2.990%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$102,120
a year
- Tuition$75,570
- Fees$1,620
- Food and housing$21,600
- Books and supplies$1,080
- Transportation and other$2,250
Boston University published $94,427 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$16,336
- $30,001 to $48,000$39,763
- $48,001 to $75,000$52,880
- $75,001 to $110,000$70,352
- Over $110,000$83,101
Financial aid
98%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$66,926
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
3.4%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $42,227 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: January 5 (November 1 for ED)
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Presidential Scholarship
half tuition per year (effective for students entering Fall 2026); holistic, no separate application beyond admission application by Dec 1
Competitive · No separate application
Deadline: December 1. To keep it: it renews for up to 4 years of college; ask the college for the renewal rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
33 of 33
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,560Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 4 | 4 | Elective credit granted; no specific course equivalent |
| Art History | 4 | 4 | CAS AH 1TR |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | CAS BI 105 or CAS BI 107 or CAS BI 108 or CGS NS 201 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | CAS BI 107 & CAS 108 or CAS BI 105 & CAS BI 107 or CAS BI 1TR & CAS CAS BI 108 or CGS NS 201 & CGS NS 202 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | CAS MA 123 |
| Calculus BC | 1 | 4 | CAS MA 123 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | CAS MA 123 & CAS MA 124 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CAS CH 131 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LC 212 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LC 311 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | CAS PO 151 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CAS CS 111 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | CS 101 or CDS DS 100 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | elective credit granted; no specific course equivalent. |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | CAS EN 100 or CGS HU1TR |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | CAS EE 100 |
| European History | 4 | 4 | elective credit granted; no specific course equivalent |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LF 212 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LF 3TR If your advisor approves a course equivalent, the course number will be in the range of LF 300-349. |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LG 212 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LG 3TR If your advisor approves a course equivalent, the course number will be in the range LG 300-349. |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | CAS EE 100 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LI 212 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LI 3TR If your advisor approves a course equivalent, the course number will be in the range LI300-349. |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LJ 212 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LJ 303 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | CAS CL 212 |
| Latin | 5 | 8 | CAS CL 212 & CAS CL 3TR |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | CAS EC 102 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | CAS EC 101 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | CFA MT 105 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | CAS PY 105 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | CAS PY 106 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | CAS PY 212 or CAS PY 252 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | CAS PY 211 or CAS PY 251 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | CAS PS 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LS 212 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LS 3TR if your advisor approved a course equivalent; the course number will be in the range of LS 300-349 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | CAS LS 212 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 4 | CAS LS 307 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | CAS MA 115 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | CAS PO 111 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | elective credit granted; no specific course equivalent |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
90%
Come back for a second year
95%
Typical earnings
$89,087
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Boston University$118,536
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 43 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Boston University. The Boston University logo is a trademark of the college.