US CollegesGetting in
Boston University admits 11% of those who apply, which makes it among the most selective in the country. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1480 out of 1600 (midpoints: 700 in reading and writing, 740 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 33 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $71,372 |
| Room and meals on campus | $19,970 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $90,106 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $36,503 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 56% above the median net price of colleges in Massachusetts on this site ($23,444). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $16,336 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $39,763 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $52,880 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $70,352 |
| Above $110,000 | $83,101 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | MA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 95% | 78% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 90% | 63% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $89,087 | $65,950 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $17,500 | $22,089 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Massachusetts and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
21% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 30% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 58% women and 42% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 2 of the 88 colleges in Massachusetts on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,300.
Other colleges in Massachusetts of a similar size
- Northeastern UniversityBoston, private nonprofit
- University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, public
- University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, public
- University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, public
- Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, private nonprofit
- Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Boston University?
Boston University admits 11% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Boston University?
Published tuition and fees are $71,372 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Boston University?
90% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.