Quad

Boston University

Boston, MAQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 9 applicants admitted

Boston admits about 1 in 9 applicants (11%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 97% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

11%

11%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

78,769

Admitted

8,749

Yield

37%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.90

SAT middle 50%

1420–1530

10001600
ACT middle 50%

32–34

1836
Applications +45% since fall 2014 · admit rate 35% → 11%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 18,248 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

18.2K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Patriot LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.72 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (15% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 70% of faculty are full-time. Spends $35,988 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$136.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

70%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$36K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $56,196 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $31.9K more than the national median. The 49% who received grants paid $24,420 on average; the other 51% paid the full sticker price of $86,363.

35%

$56.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $31.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$86,363 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

23%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $83,238 ten years after enrolling, more than at 93% of colleges; 87% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.7 years of that salary.

87%

87%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$83.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.3K

≈ $246/month for 10 years

Retention

95%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 85% → 89% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 45% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 35% to 11%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −8% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +45%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 35% → 11%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.72 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Cornell University

8.4% admit · SAT 1535 · 16K undergrads

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New York University

9.2% admit · SAT 1520 · 28.7K undergrads

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University of Southern California

11% admit · SAT 1505 · 20.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Northwestern University

7.7% admit · SAT 1540 · 9.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25

    Boston University · Fall 2024; Fall 2026 applicants; Fall 2025 entrants; 2024–25; Fall 2025 cycle; 2025–26; Class of 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-04

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Boston University (2026–27)

    Boston University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Boston University (2026)

    Boston University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 164988 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything