Chances of getting into Boston University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
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How hard is it to get into BU and can I get accepted? The school has a 19% acceptance rate ranking it #9 in Massachusetts for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 11,786 out of 62,224 applicants were admitted making BU a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 8 percent. Boston University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Test Requirements
You must 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 the COVID-19 pandemic.
BU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 650 |
| SAT Math 25th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1340 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 720 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1510 |
| Average SAT Score | 1430 |
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 9 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1340 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 1250. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1430 out of 1600. The school ranks #9 in Massachusetts 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 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1510 and Above | Good | >29% |
| 1425 to 1510 | Avg + | 19%-29% |
| 1340 to 1425 | Avg - | 12%-19% |
| 1255 to 1340 | Reach | 8%-12% |
| Less than 1255 | Low | <8% |
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BU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 31 |
| 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 #9 in Massachusetts for highest average ACT composite score. 39 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Boston University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >29% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 19%-29% |
| 30 to 32 | Avg - | 12%-19% |
| 28 to 30 | Reach | 8%-12% |
| Less than 28 | Low | <8% |
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BU GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
What GPA do you need to get into Boston University?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into BU. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Boston University was 3.59 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #19 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as BU is a very selective school.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 32% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 38% | Avg + |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 18% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 12% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Wintergreen Orchard House
Similar Requirements
High School Class Rank
58% 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 | 58% |
| Top 25% of class | 89% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 1% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 36,553 | 25,671 | 62,224 |
| Accepted | 6,876 | 4,910 | 11,786 |
| Acceptance Rate | 19% | 19% | 19% |
| Enrolled | 1,850 | 1,306 | 3,156 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 27% | 27% | 27% |
Fall 2021 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 68 days left until the Fall 2021 term applications are due on Jan 2, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Boston University is $80.
Admission 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?
19% 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 1340 and 1510. 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.