Boston University acceptance rate

How this compares with the federal figure

The Department of Education's College Scorecard still shows fall 2024, the latest year federal data covers. The college's own report is a year newer.

Admission got slightly easier, by 1.7 percentage points.

Acceptance rate by residency

Boston University reports applicants and admits separately for in-state, out-of-state and international students.

Computed from the residency breakdown in section C1 of the Common Data Set 2025–26.

Early decision and early action

Boston University offers binding early decision in two rounds. It does not offer early action.

For fall 2025, 6,907 students applied early decision and 2,165 were admitted, a rate of 31.3%. Everyone else was admitted at about 11%. Early decision applicants commit to enroll if admitted, so compare the two rates with care.

SAT and ACT scores

Test scores are optional and considered if you send them. In fall 2025, 36% of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores, so these ranges describe only those students.

The middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted the SAT scored between 1420 and 1510.

25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of enrolled first-years, fall 2025. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, section C9. The green bar is the middle 50% and the dark tick is the median.

High school GPA

The average high school GPA of enrolled first-years was 3.86. 72% had a 3.75 or higher.

Share of enrolled first-years in each GPA range, fall 2025. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, sections C11–C12.

Waitlist

16,135 applicants were offered a place on the waitlist, 10,393 accepted it and 479 were admitted from it (4.6% of those who stayed on the list).

Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, section C2.

Application fee and cost

Application fee: $80 (can be waived for financial need).

Tuition and fees for 2025–26 are $71,372; the average net price after grants was $36,503 in 2024–25. See BU's full cost and net price by family income.

Common questions

What is the BU acceptance rate?

12.8% for students entering in fall 2025. The college admitted 9,853 of 76,776 first-year applicants, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. The federal figure for fall 2024 was 11.1%.

Is BU test-optional?

Yes. Boston University does not require the SAT or ACT, but considers scores if you send them. In fall 2025, 36% of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores.

What GPA do you need for BU?

There is no published minimum. The average high school GPA of enrolled first-years in fall 2025 was 3.86, and 72% had a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Does early decision help at BU?

Early decision applicants were admitted at 31.3% (2,165 of 6,907), compared with about 11% for everyone else. Early decision is binding and draws a different group of applicants, so the gap does not measure the advantage on its own.

Sources

• Boston University, Common Data Set 2025–26 (from the college's institutional research office), checked October 30, 2026.
• U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, release of October 15, 2026.

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