[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is Boston University to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Boston University (BU)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. BU's acceptance rate is 11.11% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 78,769 students applied and 8,749 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is low, making it difficult to get into BU.
To apply to BU, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, BU's acceptance rate is 11.11% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 37.35%. 30,456 men and 44,822 women applied to BU and 3,492 men and 4,975 women students were accepted.
3,479 applicants who has another gender applied and 278 were accepted.4 accepted students' gender is unknown.
Among them, 1,267 men and 1,887 women were enrolled in BU. You can explore the BU's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 1,083 students (33% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 330 students (10% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at BU.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,480, including 720 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 760 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 750 and the 25th percentile is 690. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 780 and the 25th percentile is 730.
The median ACT composite score is 33, with a 75th percentile score of 34 and a 25th percentile score of 32 at BU. The median ACT Math score is 32 and the median ACT English score is 35.
How competitive is BU's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Boston University are similar to the average score compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,497, ACT: 34 - private (not-for-profit) research university with very high research activity).
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Completion of College Preparatory Program, Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at BU. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Boston University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to BU:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: www.bu.edu/admissions
- Online Application: www.bu.edu/admissions/apply
- Calendar System: Semester
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: 1-Year Certificate, 2-Years Certificate, 2-4 Years Certificate, Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctoral (Research), Doctoral (Professional Practice)
BU Admission Frequently Asked Questions
BU is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 11.11%.
BU recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to BU is 1,480, and the average ACT score is 33. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, BU requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, BU requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
BU does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, BU requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, BU requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for BU is 3087 and 4-digit ACT code is 1794.