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Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts · Private · 18,248 undergrads

BU admits 13% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 5, 2027.

See your odds and what families like yours paid. It stays on your device. Add my SAT and income

Can I get into BU?

13% of applicants get in

Grades and essays carry this one; most strong applicants still hear no. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1420–1510 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

76,776 applied, 9,853 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does BU cost?

$36,503 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $90,106.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$16,336
$30,000–$48,000$39,763
$48,000–$75,000$52,880
$75,000–$110,000$70,352
over $110,000$83,101

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run BU's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is BU due?

57 days left

Closed
Early decisionBinding
Was due Nov 2, 2026
57days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Tuesday, Jan 5, 2027
57days
Regular decision
Due Tuesday, Jan 5, 2027

Merit scholarships: apply by Dec 1, 2026.

Add to calendar Every BU deadline

Checked on bu.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does BU need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 33% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1470 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on bu.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

18,248
undergrads. Big, with lots of choices and some big lectures.
City
Campus setting in Boston, MA.
95%
of first-years come back for year two.
83%
finish in four years. 90% within six.
$89.1k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$17.5k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists BU is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 5Early decision II collegesDeadlines after Jan 1Most selective in MassachusettsColleges for a 1500 SATColleges for a 1450 SATColleges for a 34 ACT

Questions people ask

Is Boston University test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. BU is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on bu.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
13% for fall 2025: 9,853 of 76,776 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Boston University?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1420 to 1510 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Boston University cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $52,880 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $90,106.
When is the Boston University application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision closed Nov 2, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 5, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 5, 2027. Checked on bu.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
What is Boston University's graduation rate?
90% of students finish within six years and 83% within four (IPEDS).