The average acceptance rate at BU over the past 10 years is 20.36%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 11.11%. BU is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 27.28%, and the 2025 yield is 37.35%. Overall, the yield has increased by 83.94% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of BU applicants decreased by 2.14% (1,726 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 43.79% overall.
Key Takeaways: BU Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 11.11%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that BU has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 37.35%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that BU is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for BU and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, BU received approximately 78,769 applications, admitted 8,749 students, and enrolled 3,268 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that BU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Acceptance Rate Changes
BU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at BU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 20.36%, while the most recent rate stands at 11.11%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 11.11%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 20.67% and for women is 20.17%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at BU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
BU has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 20.31% in 2015 to 37.35% in 2025, representing a 83.94% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 27.28%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at BU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 83.94% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 67,660, the average number of admitted is 13,183, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 3,444.
The number of BU applicants decreased by 2.14% (1,726 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 43.79% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Boston University from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares Boston University' acceptance rate to similar schools.