Boston University
Data sourced from CDS, Institutional Website · Last verified September 2026; admit rate, SAT range, GPA, and enrollment from BU's Common Data Set via CDS-aggregator summary; application plan types and deadlines confirmed directly on bu.edu/admissions deadline pages; testing policy (test-optional through Fall 2028/Spring 2029 applicants) confirmed on bu.edu; net price calculator URL, Greek life %, and on-campus % not found in an available public source and left null.. This provenance applies to the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page.
Preparation
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
- Test scores are never required. Common App requirements grid
- 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
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
Applying
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.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsAcademics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
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.
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
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
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27