Admission

Entrance Difficulty

Very difficult

Overall Admission Rate

22% of 64,481 applicants were admitted

Early Action Offered

No

Early Decision Offered

Yes

Regular Admission Deadline

January 6

Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

Average GPA

3.71

SAT Math

680-780 range of middle 50%

SAT EBRW

682 average
650-720 range of middle 50%

ACT Composite

31 average
30-33 range of middle 50%

See more

Money Matters

Cost of Attendance

$75,002

Tuition and Fees

$55,892

Room and Board

$16,160

Average Percent of Need Met

91%

Average Freshman Award

$48,893

Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates

$42,976

See more

Academics

Academic Calendar System

Semester

General Education/Core Curriculum

Required for most or all students

Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates

1,873

Regular Class Size

2-9 students: 15% of classes
10-19 students: 43% of classes
20-29 students: 12% of classes
30-39 students: 8% of classes
40-49 students: 7% of classes
50-99 students: 10% of classes
Over 100 students: 4% of classes

See more

Campus Life

Boston Population

625,087

Nearest Metropolitan Area

Boston

Freshman Housing Guarantee

Freshmen are guaranteed housing

Students in College Housing

75% of all students

Athletic Conferences

NCAA Division I

Mascot

Terrier

Sororities

2% of women participate

Fraternities

 

See more

Students

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.

0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
19.4% Asian
5.1% Black/African-American
13.9% Hispanic/Latino
4.8% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.2% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
47.0% White
9.6% Unknown

International Students

21.2% from 121 countries

First-Year Students Returning

94.0%

Students Graduating Within 4 Years

83.6%

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months

67%

Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly

19.0%

See more

Freshman Admission Requirements

---

Entrance Difficulty

Very Difficult: More than 50% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT I or over 26 on the ACT; about 60% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation

High school diploma required and GED is accepted

High School Program

College preparatory program is required

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended

Subject	Required Units	Recommended Units
English	4
Mathematics	3	4
Science	3	4
Foreign Language	2	4
Social Studies	3	4
History
Academic Electives

Examinations

Examinations

Exam	Required Units	Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT	Required for some	January 6
SAT Only
ACT Only
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT
SAT Subject Tests Only	Required for some
SAT Essay Component Policy	Accepted with or without essay component
ACT Writing Test Policy	Accepted with or without writing component
ACT Writing Test Policy	SAT: Not used ACT: Not used

Applying for Admission

---

Admissions Office

Address

One Silber Way

City, State, Zip

Boston, MA 02215

Phone

(617) 353-2300

Fax

(617) 353-9695

E-mail

admissions@bu.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline

January 6

Application Fee

$80

Application Fee Waiver

Available

Regular Admission Notification

April 1

Accept Offer of Admission

May 1

Waiting List Used

Yes

Defer Admission

Student can defer admission

Transfer Admission

Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered

Yes

Early Decision Deadline

November 1, January 6

Early Decision Notification

December 15, February 7

Early Action Offered

No

Early Action Deadline

 

Early Action Notification

 

Application Form

Common Application

Accepted

Universal College Application

Not accepted

Electronic Application

Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview

Not Required

Essay or Personal Statement

Required for all freshmen

Letters of Recommendation

2 required for all freshmen

Other

Audition, portfolio recommended for some freshmen

Financial Need

Financial need is a consideration in the admissions process

Selection of Students

---

Selection of Students

Factor	Very Important	Important	Considered	Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record	X
Academic GPA		X
Standardized Tests		X
Class Rank		X
Recommendations		X
Essay		X
Interview			X
Level of Applicant's Interest		X
Extracurricular Activities		X
Volunteer Work			X
Particular Talent/Ability				X
Character/Personal Qualities		X
First Generation to Attend College			X
State Residency			X
Geographic Residence			X
Relation with Alumnus		X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment				X
Ethnicity			X
Work Experience			X

Profile of Fall Admission

---

Overall Admission Rate

22% of 64,481 applicants were admitted

Women

22% of 38,049 applicants were admitted

Men

23% of 26,432 applicants were admitted

Students Enrolled

3,511 (25%) of 14,247 admitted students enrolled

Women

2,050 (25%) of 8,268 admitted students enrolled

Men

1,584 (26%) of 5,979 admitted students enrolled

Early Decision Admission Rate

28% of 4,474 applicants were admitted

Early Action Admission Rate

 

Students Offered Wait List

5,441

Students Accepting Wait List Position

3,446

Students Admitted From Wait List

1

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA

3.71

3.75 and Above

35%

3.50 - 3.74

41%

3.25 - 3.49

15%

3.00 - 3.24

9%

2.50 - 2.99

 

2.00 - 2.49

 

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math

680-780 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

69%

Score of 600 - 700

28%

Score of 500 - 600

3%

Score of 400 - 500

0%

Score of 300 - 400

0%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

SAT EBRW

682 average
650-720 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

42%

Score of 600 - 700

53%

Score of 500 - 600

5%

Score of 400 - 500

0%

Score of 300 - 400

0%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite

31 average
30-33 range of middle 50%

Score of 30 - 36

76%

Score of 24 - 29

23%

Score of 18 - 23

1%

Score of 12 - 17

0%

Score of 6 - 11

0%

Score of 5 or Below

0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank

Top tenth: 65%
Top quarter: 93%
Top half: 100%

National Merit Scholar

1%

Valedictorian

2%

Class President

Not reported

Student Government Officer

Not reported

Academic Calendar System

Semester

Summer Session

Offered

General Catalog/Bulletin

Online Catalog

Undergraduate Education

---

Undergraduate Majors

Most Popular Disciplines

Business/marketing, Communication/journalism, Social sciences

Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs

None

Special Programs

Accelerated program, Cooperative work study program, Student-designed major, Distance learning, Double major, English as a second language, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session

Study Abroad

Offered

Online Degrees

Some online degree programs

Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

---

General Education/Core Curriculum

Required for most or all students

Computer

Students not required to own/lease a computer

Foreign Language

Not required

Math/Science

Not required

Faculty and Instruction

---

Full-Time Faculty

1,873

Part-Time Faculty

792

Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree

63%

Regular Class Size

2-9 students: 15% of classes
10-19 students: 43% of classes
20-29 students: 12% of classes
30-39 students: 8% of classes
40-49 students: 7% of classes
50-99 students: 10% of classes
Over 100 students: 4% of classes

Discussion Section/Lab Class Size

2-9 students: 7% of discussion sections/labs
10-19 students: 37% of discussion sections/labs
20-29 students: 45% of discussion sections/labs
30-39 students: 7% of discussion sections/labs
40-49 students: 2% of discussion sections/labs
50-59 students: 2% of discussion sections/labs
Over 100 students: 0% of discussion sections/labs

Advanced Placement

---

International Baccalaureate

Accepted

Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

Accepted for placement and credit

Sophomore Standing

Available through AP examinations

Academic Resources

---

Library Available on Campus

Yes

Holdings

3,631,629

Computer Ownership

Students not required to own/lease a computer

Computers Available on Campus

250

Internet/E-mail Access

Not reported

Academic Support Services

---

Remedial Instruction

Not Offered

Tutoring

Available

Services for Learning Disabled Students

Available

Services for Physically Disabled Students

Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access

Graduate/Professional School Education

---

Master's Degrees Offered

Master of Laws, Master of Music, Master of Arts in Economic Policy, Master of Science in Administrative Studies, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Dentistry, Master of Public Health, Master of Science, Master of Liberal Arts, Master of Urban Affairs, Master of Divinity, Master of Engineering, Master of Criminal Justice, Master of City Planning, Master of Sacred Music

Master's Programs of Study

Doctoral Degrees Offered

Doctor of Science in Dentistry, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Juris Doctor, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Medicine

Doctoral Programs of Study

Location and Setting

---

Boston Population

625,087

Nearest Metropolitan Area

Boston

Campus Size

169 acres

Weather

Temperature

21.6 average low in January, 76.3 average high in September

Rain

127 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map

Map

Nearest Bus Station

2 mile(s) from campus in Boston

Nearest Train Station

1 mile(s) from campus in Boston

Housing

---

College Housing

College offers housing to students

Types of Housing

Women only housing, coed housing, cooperative housing, disabled student housing

Students in College Housing

75% of all students

Housing Requirements

Freshmen are required to live on campus

Freshman Housing Guarantee

Freshmen are guaranteed housing

Students Living Off Campus/Commuting

 

Off-Campus Housing Assistance

Assistance in locating off-campus housing is available

Security

---

24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices

Available

24-Hour Security Patrols

Available

Late-Night Transport/Escort Services

Available

Electronically Operated Housing Entrances

Available

Other

 

Personal Support Services

---

Health Service

Offered

Personal Counseling

Offered

Child Care

Not offered

Sports and Recreation

---

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences

NCAA Division I

Mascot

Terrier

School Colors

Scarlet and white

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Women's Club Sports

badminton, cheerleading, equestrian sports, fencing, gymnastics, rugby, sailing, skiing (downhill), squash, table tennis, triathlon, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo

Men's Club Sports

badminton, baseball, cheerleading, equestrian sports, fencing, golf, gymnastics, rugby, sailing, skiing (downhill), softball, squash, table tennis, triathlon, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports

basketball, football, softball, volleyball

Student Activities

---

Activities and Organizations

choral groups, marching band, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, television station, national fraternities, national sororities, performing and acappella groups, cultural organizations, service organizations, student government, residence hall associations

Sororities

2% of women participate

Fraternities

 

ROTC

Army ROTC offered on campus, Navy ROTC is offered on campus, Air Force ROTC offered on campus

Student Body

---

Coeducational

Yes

All Undergraduates

18,515

Women

11,071 (59.8%)

Men

7,444 (40.2%)

Full-Time Undergraduates

17,396

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.

0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
19.4% Asian
5.1% Black/African-American
13.9% Hispanic/Latino
4.8% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.2% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
47.0% White
9.6% Unknown

International Students.

21.2% from 121 countries

Average Age

21

All Graduate Students

16,142

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

---

First-Year Students Returning

94.0%

Students Graduating Within 4 Years

83.6%

Students Graduating Within 5 Years

87.3%

Students Graduating Within 6 Years

87.0%

After Graduation

---

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months

67%

Average Starting Salary

67%

Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly

19.0%

Disciplines Pursued

Not reported