Chances of getting into Boston University
Admissions
How hard is it to get into BU and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at BU is 20%. It ranks #7 in Massachusetts and #52 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. BU is a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Last year, 12,254 out of 61,007 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 9 percent (SAT 1310/1500 ACT 30/34). Boston University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.76. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. 24% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The BU application fee is $80 and applications are due by Jan 2.
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Boston University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
BU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 640 |
| SAT Math 25th | 670 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1310 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 720 |
| SAT Math 75th | 780 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1500 |
| Average SAT Score | 1410
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Boston University?
Boston University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 11 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1310 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1210. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1410 out of 1600. BU ranks #10 in Massachusetts and #54 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 70 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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BU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 30 |
| ACT Math 25th | 27 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 30 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 33 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 32
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into BU?
Admission data indicates that BU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 30 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 7 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 28 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #8 in Massachusetts and #42 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 39 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Boston University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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BU GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Boston University?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into BU. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Boston University was 3.76 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #17 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as BU is a very selective school.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
66% of Boston University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 66% |
| Top 25% of class | 93% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 36,125 | 24,882 | 61,007 |
| Accepted | 7,147 | 5,107 | 12,254 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20% | 21% | 20% |
| Enrolled | 1,740 | 1,174 | 2,914 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 24% | 23% | 24% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 2, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Boston University is $80.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Boston University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=164988 IPEDS survey data for Boston University.
FAQs
Does Boston University prefer SAT or ACT?
70% of students submit their SAT scores to BU. 39% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Boston University?
20% of those who apply are granted admission to BU. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Boston University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1310 and 1500. 70% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Boston University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 30 and 34. 39% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.