Boston University is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Boston, Massachusetts with 18,248 undergraduates. It admits 11% of applicants, costs an average of $36,503 a year after grants and graduates 90% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers .
Boston University acceptance rate and admissions Boston University admitted 11% of applicants for fall 2024, about 1 in 9. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Considered but not required (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
SAT total 1420 to 1530
400 1600 The colored band is the middle 50% of enrolled students in fall 2024 (reading and writing 690 to 750, math 730 to 780). The tick marks the typical 4-year college. Check how your scores fit .
Boston University application deadlines 2026-27 Round Deadline Early decision Nov 2, 2026 (passed) Early decision II Jan 5, 2027 Regular decision Jan 5, 2027
Next deadline: Early decision II, Jan 5, 2027 . Application fee through the Common App: $80 for U.S. applicants. Confirm dates on Boston University’s admissions page; see every college on the deadline calendar .
Source: Common App 2026-27 first-year deadlines, fees and requirements grid, updated Sep 25, 2026.
Boston University tuition, cost and net price Tuition and fees (2025-26) $71,372 On-campus housing and food (2025-26) $19,970 Total cost of attendance (2024-25) $90,106 Average net price after grants (2024-25) $36,503
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $36,503 a year after grants and scholarships, $53,603 less than the full cost of attendance.
What families pay, by income Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students, by family income (2024-25):
$0 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
Over $110,000 $83,101
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run Boston University's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card .
Boston University graduation rate, earnings and debt 90% finished within 6 years 95% came back for year two 21% get a Pell Grant
90% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).Former students earned a median of $89,087 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working). Students who completed left with a median of $17,500 in federal student loans. Earnings compared Boston University $89,087
Massachusetts median, private nonprofit 4-year $74,103
U.S. median, private nonprofit 4-year $59,582
Debt compared Boston University $17,500
Massachusetts median $23,335
U.S. median $23,250
Median debt is 20% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment .
Boston University majors and what graduates earn Boston University awarded bachelor's degrees in 70 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer science ($136,667).
Computer science $136,667
Computer engineering $135,394
Interdisciplinary studies, other $110,622
Business administration $108,412
Biomedical engineering $99,024
Electrical engineering $98,953
Economics $96,723
Mechanical engineering $95,757
All 70 majors at Boston University Major Graduates (2023-24) Earnings 1 yr after Earnings 4 yrs after Median debt Computer science 351 $98,587 $136,667 $17,500 Computer engineering 72 $105,408 $135,394 $20,500 Interdisciplinary studies, other 22 $102,611 $110,622 n/a Business administration 713 $77,263 $108,412 $18,500 Biomedical engineering 121 $73,080 $99,024 $20,500 Electrical engineering 30 $78,163 $98,953 $19,500 Economics 264 $63,688 $96,723 $18,500 Mechanical engineering 132 $80,780 $95,757 $19,500 Mathematics 97 $63,944 $84,784 $21,500 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other 27 n/a $83,413 $19,000 Hospitality management 55 $59,073 $82,302 $19,500 Communication 51 $54,804 $80,306 $17,750 Health professions, general 138 $44,969 $78,431 $18,520 Graphic and industrial design 24 $40,940 $72,809 $17,500 Physical and occupational therapy 36 $44,945 $72,566 $17,110 Neuroscience 131 $46,291 $68,888 $19,000 Philosophy 67 $43,896 $68,026 $16,750 International relations 156 $54,505 $66,661 $18,125 Political science 131 $49,871 $66,373 $18,500 Journalism 90 $46,107 $65,617 $15,500 Biochemistry and molecular biology 129 $46,727 $64,112 $19,250 Psychology 348 $45,716 $63,838 $19,000 Sociology 45 $48,548 $63,791 $17,250 Social work 1 n/a $63,594 n/a Physiology 109 $36,588 $62,342 $19,000 Biology 173 $41,472 $61,610 $19,000 History 44 $44,977 $59,986 $15,375 Teacher education by subject 12 $53,380 $59,858 n/a English 45 $40,909 $58,564 $20,232 Ecology and evolutionary biology 43 $36,518 $57,967 $19,000 Special education 7 n/a $57,294 n/a Education 28 n/a $56,556 n/a Radio, TV and digital media 174 $42,398 $55,804 $19,000 Teacher education by grade level 15 $52,685 $54,766 n/a Anthropology 17 $44,140 $53,722 n/a Clinical and counseling psychology 0 n/a $51,086 n/a Fine and studio arts 37 $36,370 $49,538 $18,750 Music 33 $49,329 $39,426 $23,985 Theater 58 $37,373 $39,322 $20,468 Public relations and advertising 301 $55,505 n/a $17,375 Mathematical Economics 51 n/a n/a n/a Computer and information sciences 33 n/a n/a n/a Social Sciences, Other 33 $57,147 n/a $19,333 Environmental science 32 $43,972 n/a $18,250 Applied mathematics 26 n/a n/a n/a Chemistry 25 $55,024 n/a $20,500 Linguistics 23 n/a n/a $23,500 Physics 22 n/a n/a $20,500 Architectural history 20 n/a n/a n/a Health/Medical Preparatory Programs 20 n/a n/a n/a Nutrition Sciences 18 n/a n/a n/a Astronomy 15 n/a n/a n/a Speech-language pathology 12 n/a n/a n/a Classical and Ancient Studies 11 n/a n/a n/a Archeology 11 n/a n/a n/a Area Studies 8 n/a n/a n/a Religious studies 7 n/a n/a n/a East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 6 n/a n/a n/a Romance languages 6 n/a n/a n/a Film and photography 6 n/a n/a n/a Engineering Physics 5 n/a n/a n/a Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 3 n/a n/a n/a Economics and Computer Science 3 n/a n/a n/a Criminal justice 3 n/a n/a n/a Medical lab science 3 $87,287 n/a n/a Geoarcheaology 2 n/a n/a n/a Physical Sciences, General 2 n/a n/a n/a Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education 1 n/a n/a n/a Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 0 n/a n/a n/a Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 0 n/a n/a n/a
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at Boston University 163 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 163 graduate programs Program Degree Graduates (2023-24) Earnings 1 yr after Median debt Business administration Master's 1,244 $118,075 $34,167 Data analytics Master's 379 n/a n/a Business analytics and operations research Master's 368 $106,639 $39,910 Social work Master's 344 $63,669 $54,413 Law Professional doctorate 296 $151,628 $102,650 Computer science Master's 284 $131,725 n/a Public health Master's 265 $70,983 $65,921 Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies Master's 220 $107,660 $73,861 Dentistry Professional doctorate 214 $137,454 $279,829 Data Processing Master's 201 $121,418 $26,028 Information science Master's 198 $119,179 $35,197 Ecology and evolutionary biology Master's 195 $71,849 $66,000 Marketing Master's 195 $85,259 n/a Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Master's 169 $49,609 $86,464 Medicine Professional doctorate 154 $71,154 $182,792 Physical and occupational therapy Doctoral 153 $79,525 $63,686 Computer Software and Media Applications Master's 133 $113,179 $31,149 Radio, TV and digital media Master's 128 $60,365 $62,275 Teacher education by subject Master's 119 $63,306 $31,202 Electrical engineering Master's 110 $121,650 $60,654 Economics Master's 102 n/a n/a Public relations and advertising Master's 99 $69,990 $40,006 Criminal justice Master's 99 $66,668 $35,500 Finance Master's 95 $87,435 $39,970 Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Master's 93 $94,361 $41,750 Education leadership Master's 84 $66,992 $20,415 Biomedical engineering Master's 82 $86,455 $63,500 Applied mathematics Master's 77 n/a n/a Curriculum and Instruction Master's 76 $66,640 n/a Statistics Master's 69 n/a n/a Music Master's 66 $30,881 $41,000 Health administration Master's 65 $139,612 $41,000 Mechanical engineering Master's 58 $90,458 $60,500 Clinical and counseling psychology Master's 53 $61,318 $111,961 Nutrition Sciences Master's 48 $69,184 $63,442 Hospitality management Master's 48 $68,056 n/a Divinity and ministry Professional doctorate 47 $49,264 $33,502 International relations Master's 47 $54,515 $75,541 Arts management Master's 43 $57,775 n/a Health/Medical Preparatory Programs Master's 43 n/a n/a School counseling and student services Master's 42 $54,954 $41,000 Speech-language pathology Master's 42 $66,510 $68,471 Biology Master's 41 n/a n/a Computer and information sciences Master's 38 n/a n/a Fine and studio arts Master's 37 $37,786 $55,808 Psychology Master's 35 $51,377 $65,250 Graphic and industrial design Master's 35 n/a n/a Medical Illustration and Informatics Master's 33 n/a n/a Special education Master's 31 $66,654 n/a Music Doctoral 31 n/a n/a Divinity and ministry Master's 29 n/a n/a Teacher education by subject Doctoral 28 $89,768 $37,515 Materials Engineering Master's 26 n/a n/a Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Doctoral 26 n/a n/a Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Master's 25 n/a n/a Divinity and ministry Doctoral 25 n/a n/a Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other Master's 25 $128,119 $161,006 Chemistry Master's 24 n/a n/a Chemistry Doctoral 24 n/a n/a Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences Master's 24 n/a n/a Biomedical engineering Doctoral 23 n/a n/a Electrical engineering Doctoral 21 n/a n/a Communication Master's 20 $46,487 $53,327 City and regional planning Master's 19 n/a n/a Physiology Master's 19 $65,144 n/a Biotechnology Master's 19 n/a n/a Security Science and Technology Master's 19 $56,314 $75,583 Economics Doctoral 19 n/a n/a Journalism Master's 18 $53,780 $41,000 Teaching English as a second language Master's 18 n/a n/a Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Doctoral 18 n/a n/a Culinary Arts and Related Services Master's 17 n/a n/a Systems Science and Theory Master's 17 n/a n/a Psychology Doctoral 17 n/a n/a Systems Engineering Master's 16 n/a n/a Anthropology Master's 16 n/a $129,966 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Master's 15 n/a n/a Theater Master's 14 n/a n/a Mechanical engineering Doctoral 13 n/a n/a Mental health counseling Master's 13 n/a n/a Political science Master's 12 n/a n/a Computer science Doctoral 11 n/a n/a Computer engineering Doctoral 11 n/a n/a Manufacturing Engineering Master's 11 n/a n/a Neuroscience Doctoral 11 n/a n/a Public Policy Analysis Master's 11 n/a n/a Urban Studies/Affairs Master's 11 n/a n/a Teacher education by grade level Master's 10 $52,919 n/a Biology Doctoral 10 n/a n/a Statistics Doctoral 10 n/a n/a Physics Doctoral 10 n/a n/a Linguistics Master's 9 n/a n/a Human development and family studies Master's 9 $53,401 n/a Geology and earth sciences Doctoral 9 n/a n/a Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other Doctoral 9 n/a n/a Political science Doctoral 9 n/a n/a Fine and studio arts Doctoral 9 n/a n/a Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Master's 8 n/a n/a Philosophy Doctoral 8 n/a n/a Geology and earth sciences Master's 8 n/a n/a History Doctoral 8 n/a n/a Computer engineering Master's 7 n/a n/a Materials Engineering Doctoral 7 n/a n/a Systems Engineering Doctoral 7 n/a n/a Astronomy Master's 7 n/a n/a Health administration Doctoral 7 n/a n/a Public health Doctoral 7 n/a n/a Insurance Master's 7 n/a n/a Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other Doctoral 7 n/a n/a History Master's 7 n/a n/a Taxation Master's 6 n/a n/a Romance languages Doctoral 5 n/a n/a English Master's 5 n/a n/a Ecology and evolutionary biology Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Classical and Ancient Studies Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Data science Master's 5 n/a n/a Religious studies Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Clinical and counseling psychology Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Sociology Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences Doctoral 5 n/a n/a Romance languages Master's 4 n/a n/a Genetics Doctoral 4 n/a n/a Pharmacology and Toxicology Doctoral 4 n/a n/a Mathematics Master's 4 n/a n/a Anthropology Doctoral 4 n/a n/a Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities Master's 4 n/a n/a Area Studies Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Radio, TV and digital media Doctoral 3 n/a n/a IT and network administration Master's 3 n/a n/a Education Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral 3 n/a n/a English Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Astronomy Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Social work Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other Master's 3 n/a n/a Sociology Master's 3 n/a n/a Business administration Doctoral 3 n/a n/a Education leadership Doctoral 2 n/a n/a Special education Doctoral 2 n/a n/a Mathematics Doctoral 2 n/a n/a Applied mathematics Doctoral 2 n/a n/a Philosophy Master's 2 n/a n/a Religious studies Master's 2 n/a n/a Area Studies Master's 1 n/a n/a Linguistics Doctoral 1 n/a n/a Biochemistry and molecular biology Doctoral 1 n/a n/a Historic Preservation and Conservation Master's 1 n/a n/a Classical and Ancient Studies Master's 1 n/a n/a Religious Music and Worship Master's 1 n/a n/a Physics Master's 1 n/a n/a Archeology Master's 1 n/a n/a Speech-language pathology Doctoral 1 n/a n/a Allied health (PA, radiography, therapy and more) Master's 1 $74,869 n/a Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other Master's 1 $68,242 n/a School counseling and student services Doctoral 0 n/a n/a English Language and Literature/Letters, Other Doctoral 0 n/a n/a Biochemistry and molecular biology Master's 0 n/a n/a Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Master's 0 n/a n/a Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Doctoral 0 n/a n/a Neuroscience Master's 0 n/a n/a Archeology Doctoral 0 n/a n/a Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies Master's 0 n/a n/a Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies Doctoral 0 n/a n/a
Trade and career programs at Boston University Certificate and associate programs in the trades we track. One-year earnings are for graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, four-year earnings for graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, both in 2024 dollars.
Program Credential Graduates (2023-24) Earnings 1 yr after Earnings 4 yrs after Median debt Culinary arts Certificate 3 n/a n/a n/a
Students and location Frequently asked questions What is the acceptance rate at Boston University? Boston University admitted 11% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does Boston University cost? Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $71,372. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $36,503 a year in 2024-25.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University? The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 690 to 750 in reading and writing and 730 to 780 in math, and 32 to 34 on the ACT. Scores inside these ranges are typical for admitted students.
Is Boston University test-optional? For fall 2024 admission, Boston University reported that test scores were: considered but not required. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at Boston University? 90% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do Boston University graduates make? Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $89,087 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
Similar colleges Matched on location, type, selectivity, size, net price and graduation rate.
BC Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA 16% admitted · $38,930 net price TU Tufts University Medford, MA 12% admitted · $38,797 net price NU Northeastern University Boston, MA 5.2% admitted · $29,060 net price CHC College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA 18% admitted · $38,829 net price BC Babson College Wellesley, MA 17% admitted · $34,096 net price WC Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 14% admitted · $23,995 net price More: all colleges in Massachusetts · colleges in Boston · Boston University on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard , data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers .
