Boston University
MA · Common Data Set 2025-2026
At a glance
Recent years
| Year | Admit rate | Enrolled UG | 6-yr grad | SAT (50th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 12.8% | 3,449 | 90.0% | 1,470 |
| 2024-2025 | 11.1% | 3,268 | 89.0% | 1,470 |
| 2023-2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-2023 | — | 3,634 | 89.0% | 1,430 |
| 2021-2022 | — | 4,010 | 89.0% | — |
Common cross-admits
- Northeastern University
- New York University
- Tufts University
- Boston College
- George Washington University
- University of Michigan
- Emory University
Statistical look-alikes
Schools with very similar admit rates, SAT scores, and enrollment to Boston University — worth a look even if they weren't already on your list.
- University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Southern California
Frequently asked
What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?
Boston University admits 12.8% of applicants based on the most recently reported Common Data Set.
What SAT score do I need for Boston University?
The middle 50% SAT range at Boston University is 1420–1510, with a median score of 1470. Students at the 25th percentile scored 1420; students at the 75th percentile scored 1510.
What ACT score do I need for Boston University?
The middle 50% ACT range at Boston University is 33–34, with a median of 34.
How much does Boston University cost?
Annual full-time tuition at Boston University is $69,870. Room and board is approximately $19,970. Most students pay less than the published price after financial aid.
What is the graduation rate at Boston University?
Boston University's 6-year graduation rate is 90.0%. The first-year retention rate is 94.2%.
How many students attend Boston University?
Boston University enrolls 18,289 undergraduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1.
About the Common Data Set
The Common Data Set (CDS) is a collaborative reporting standard developed by colleges, the College Board, Peterson's, and U.S. News. Each year, participating institutions answer the same questionnaire covering admissions selectivity, enrollment composition, financial aid, faculty resources, and student outcomes. Because every school answers in the same format, the CDS lets prospective students compare schools apples-to-apples — without normalizing across different rankings methodologies. CDS Atlas aggregates the most recently published Common Data Set for hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities, with multi-year history where available, side-by-side comparison tools, and federal data (College Scorecard, EADA athletics, Clery campus safety) layered on top.
Source
Sourced from Boston University's officially published Common Data Set for 2025-2026. View the original document.