Boston University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Boston, MA

$54,720

Avg tuition

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About Boston University

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

One of the largest private, non-profit schools in the country, Boston University enrolls more than 34,000 students annually. BU was founded in 1839, has three campuses in Boston, and oversees about 300 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including 50 online programs. Boston University has a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 19% and a graduation rate of 88%. The student-faculty ratio is low at 10:1, and tuition and fees for stuents are $55,892. BU puts a strong emphasis on research and is connected to more than 130 research centers and institutes. The campus is home to a 270,000-square-foot recreational facility and over 500 student clubs and organizations.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a competitive acceptance rate.

This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.

19% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

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94% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

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88% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Test scores Required

High school rank Required

High school GPA Required

Completion of college prep program Required

High school transcript Required

Letter of recommendation Required

Open admission No

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 30-34

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1340-1510

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

34k

Students enrolled

10%

Online student enrollment

10:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

38%

Non-U.S. Citizen

26%

Asian

13%

Hispanic

9%

Unknown

7%

Black

4%

Two or more races

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

58%

Socio-economic diversity

17% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

33

Total Online Enrollment

3,205

Student Location Breakout

10% 90%

Percent of Programs Online

92% On-campus

8% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 4% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 5% online

Master's Check Bold 14% online

Doctorate Check Bold 4% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $54,720 $54,720
Graduate $54,720 $54,720

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,000
On-campus room and board $16,160
On-campus other expenses $1,950
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $15,720
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $1,950
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $3,800

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $73,830 $73,830
Off-campus without family $73,390 $73,390
Off-campus with family $59,520 $59,520

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

18%

State Grant Aid

2%

Institution Grant Aid

49%

Pell Grant

17%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $7,103
State Grant Aid $3,441
Institution Grant Aid $40,819
Pell Grant Aid $4,801

Financial Outlook

$25k

Average student debt after graduation

$53k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.