Chances of getting into Boston University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
25.1%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Exceptional | |
| Applicant Competition | High |
How hard is it to get into BU and can I get accepted? The school has a 25% acceptance rate ranking it #9 in Massachusetts for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 15,273 out of 60,825 applicants were admitted making BU a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has extremely 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 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at BU, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesBU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1360-1510Applicants Submitting SAT
63%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 670 |
| SAT Math 25th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1360 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 730 |
| SAT Math 75th | 780 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1510 |
| Average SAT Score | 1440 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Boston University?
Boston University typically requires applicants to be in the top 7 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1360 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 1280. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1440 out of 1600. The school ranks #10 in Massachusetts for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 63 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1510 and Above | Good | >36% |
| 1435 to 1510 | Avg + | 25%-36% |
| 1360 to 1435 | Avg - | 16%-25% |
| 1285 to 1360 | Reach | 10%-16% |
| Less than 1285 | Low | <10% |
BU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
29-32Applicants Submitting ACT
52%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 28 |
| ACT Math 25th | 27 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 29 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 32 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 32 |
| Average ACT Score | 30 |
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 29 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 9 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 28 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 30 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 32 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #12 in Massachusetts for highest average ACT composite score. 52 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Boston University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 32 and Above | Good | >40% |
| 30 to 32 | Avg + | 25%-40% |
| 29 to 30 | Avg - | 19%-25% |
| 28 to 29 | Reach | 14%-19% |
| Less than 28 | Low | <14% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.59Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into Boston University. 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. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to BU will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
| 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 |
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% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 35,622 | 25,203 | 60,825 |
| Accepted | 9,147 | 6,126 | 15,273 |
| Acceptance Rate | 26% | 24% | 25% |
| Enrolled | 2,054 | 1,444 | 3,498 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 24% | 23% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
22Applicants have 22 days left until the Fall 2020 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2020.
Seniors, these are the SAT and ACT test dates you can still sit for a test and send your results to BU before the Jan 1 application deadline.
| ACT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Dec 14 | Dec 24 |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Boston University and what considerations affect 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 | Required |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Boston University prefer SAT or ACT?
63% of students submit their SAT scores to BU. 52% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Boston University?
25% of those who apply are granted admission to BU. Admission competition is high and the college has exceptional 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 1360 and 1510. 63% 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 29 and 32. 52% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
