Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (11% and 11%).
$80 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
37% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 15,339 offered a place, 8,996 accepted, 18 admitted (0.2% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 28% admitted
1,936 of 6,854 early applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 5; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Boston reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered. 78% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 33% of first-years sent an SAT and 10% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Recommends 4 years of foreign language and math (2 and 3 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Not considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
35% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 11% of first-year applicants
6,729 applied · 2,328 admitted · 915 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 12 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 3.8
Dates
- Spring entry: priority date November 1
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 5 for fall 2025.
- $650 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
What you'll need in high school
High school diploma is required and GED accepted; home-schooled students should contact the Office of Admissions..
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 4 |
| Social studies | 3 | 4 |
| Total | 15 | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2024 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.90
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.041%
- 3.75–3.9937%
- 3.50–3.7422%
- 3.25–3.490%
- 3.00–3.240%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.75–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 41.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 37.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 22.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1475 on the SAT, 305 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2026.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
89% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (91%) scored 30 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
87% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (93%) scored 30 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 33% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 10% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
1,093 studentssubmitted ACT
333 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)