CollegeScout
Private

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
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Admit Rate
11%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)Ultra-Selective
Average GPA (Unweighted)
3.86
An average; the school publishes no range
Cost of Attendance
$86,285
per year, before aid
Test Policy
SAT/ACT optional‡ (source: Boston University admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 28, 2026)

Data sourced from CDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.

Preparation

Helpful high school preparation
4 years of English4 years of math3-4 years of lab science3-4 years of a foreign language

This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.

Admissions

How admission works here

Where you apply
The Common App. Common App requirements grid
Test scores
Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Boston University admissions
Essays
The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
Recommendations
1 teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
Portfolio
Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
Application fee
$80. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
Deadlines
Early Decision (binding) November 2, Early Decision II (binding) January 5, Regular Decision January 5. Common App requirements grid
Overall
11%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.

Average Unweighted GPA
3.86

Average unweighted GPA 3.86 (discrete 25th/75th percentile range not published)

Mid-50% SAT
1420-1510
SAT/ACT optional
Top 10 majors
  1. 1Business Administration
  2. 2Computer Science
  3. 3Psychology
  4. 4Economics
  5. 5Radio and Television
  6. 6Biology
  7. 7Advertising
  8. 8International Relations and Affairs
  9. 9Health Sciences
  10. 10Mechanical Engineering

Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Boston University may call a major something slightly different.

Applying

Application Deadlines† (source: Common App requirements grid · 2026-27)
Early Decision
November 2 · Binding
Early Decision II
January 5 · Binding
Regular Decision
January 5 · Non-binding

Applying through the Common App

Application fee
$80
Common App fee waiver
Accepted
Common App personal essay
Required
Portfolios collected through
SlideRoom
Recommendations
1 teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, mid-year report

Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.

Essay details are being verified

College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.

View official application requirements

Music & Sports Tracks

Sports

NCAA Division I
Varsity sports (11)
BasketballField hockeyGolfIce hockeyLacrosseRowingSoccerSoftballSwimming and divingTennisTrack and field and cross country
U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics data (2024-25)
How music and sports fit into an application

Academics

Flagship Programs

Questrom School of BusinessCollege of CommunicationCollege of Engineering

Career & Major Pathways

Primary Disciplines
BusinessCommunication/JournalismBiology/Pre-HealthEngineeringComputer ScienceInternational RelationsPsychologyFilm and Television
Interdisciplinary Pathways
Health SciencesMedia ScienceGlobal StudiesData Science

Cost

Cost of attendance, per year
$86,285* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.

Tuition only (part of the cost above)
Tuition $68,102* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)

Financial Aid

What families actually paid, by household income

Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.

Under $30,000
$9,500
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,342
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,778
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,517
Over $110,000
$47,504

College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024

Estimate what your family would pay

Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.

Scholarships and merit aid

BU offers substantial merit scholarships (Trustee and Presidential Scholarships being the most prestigious, awarded automatically to top applicants without a separate application), making it one of the more merit-aid-friendly options among this group of highly selective privates.

Campus

Campus Fit

Location
Boston, Massachusetts· Urban
Undergraduates
17,628
Setting
Urban
In a fraternity or sorority
Not publicly reported
Living on campus
Not publicly reported

*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024

†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27

‡Boston University admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 28, 2026

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