Boston University (BU)

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Boston University can be found in Boston, MA, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. BU enrolls about thirty four thousand students per year.

Many of the students getting into BU got an SAT score between 1340 - 1510, or got accepted with an ACT score within the range of 30 - 34. By applying sampled GPA data from over 150 schools, we are able to estimate that the Boston University (BU) average GPA ranges from 3.75 to 3.96 for accepted students. The acceptance rate for this school is lower than most schools and competition is high, given that only 20 percent of students who applied are admitted to the school. Based on historical acceptance rate data, the projected Boston University (BU) acceptance rate 2021 is estimated to be 21%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at bu.edu.

Overall Boston University (BU) Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

18.9%

The overall acceptance rate for Boston University was reported as 18.9% in Fall 2020 with over 62,200 applications submitted to BU. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • BU ACT Scores: 30 - 34
  • BU Average GPA: 3.75 - 3.96

How Hard Is It to Get into Boston University?

Applicant Selectivity: High

The selectivity of applicants for undergraduate admissions to Boston University is considered high, with many applicants scoring in the top percentiles on the SAT or ACT exam, as well as having an excellent high school GPA.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for Boston University has been on a downward trend over the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 29.4%
  • 2017-2018: 25.1%
  • 2018-2019: 22.1%
  • 2019-2020: 18.9%
  • Projected BU Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 20.8%

How Does Boston University (BU) Compare?

18.9%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for Boston University is more than 100% lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology6.7%
Northeastern University18.1%
Harvard University4.6%
Boston College27.2%
Tufts University15.0%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • High School Class Rankings are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants62,22441.3%58.7%
Admitted11,78641.7%58.3%
Enrolled3,15641.4%58.6%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Boston University (BU) (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading650 - 720
Math690 - 790
Total Score1340 - 1510
ACT®Score Range
English31 - 35
Math27 - 33
Composite Score30 - 34
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.

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School Details

Address

One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

Phone

(617) 353-2000

Website

School Code

#002130

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