Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodists with its original campus in Newbury, Vermont. It was chartered in Boston in 1869. The university is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Boston Consortium for Higher Education.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Average net price: $24,402
- Undergraduate enrollment: 22,856
- Graduation rate (150%): 89%
- Graduation rate (200%): 90%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 87%
- Student to faculty ratio: 10:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $83,238
- Median earnings (8 years): $73,661
- Median earnings (6 years): $65,655
- Control: Private nonprofit
- Locale: City, large
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Boston, MA
Majors and programs
The most common programs at BU include Business Administration and Management, Computer Science, Psychology.
- Business Administration and Management (713 bachelor's) · median earnings $108,412 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,196
- Computer Science (328 bachelor's) · median earnings $136,667 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,125
- Psychology (313 bachelor's) · median earnings $63,838 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,250
- Economics (237 bachelor's) · median earnings $96,723 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,224
- Radio and Television (169 bachelor's) · median earnings $55,804 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,167
- Biology (169 bachelor's) · median earnings $61,610 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,985
- Advertising (165 bachelor's) · median earnings $80,306 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,250
- International Relations and Affairs (142 bachelor's) · median earnings $66,661 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,394
- Health Services (138 bachelor's) · median earnings $78,431 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,889
- Mechanical Engineering (130 bachelor's) · median earnings $95,757 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,000
Degree mix: Business 32%, Engineering 9%, Computer Science 15%, Health 15%, Biological Sciences 14%, Psychology 5%, Communication 10%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
BU students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $11,453 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $11,453
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $11,167
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $13,639
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $25,501
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $48,018
- In-state tuition and fees: $68,102
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $68,102
- Books and supplies: $1,000
- On-campus room and board: $19,020
- Off-campus room and board: $19,020
- Off-campus with family: $3,935
- Typical cost of attendance: $88,122
- Sticker vs net gap: 72%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 19%
- Federal loan recipients: 23%
- Average institutional grant: $58,490
- Average federal loan: $5,428
- Median debt at graduation: $23,250
Admissions
BU admits 11% of applicants. Of students admitted, 37% enrolled.
- Applications: 78,769
- Admitted: 8,749
- Enrolled: 3,268
- Yield (first-choice signal): 37%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 22,856
- Women: 57%
- Commuter share (estimated): 48%
- Part-time undergraduates: 1%
- Age 25 and older: 3%
- Graduate students: 12,170
- Graduation rate: 89%
- Come back after freshman year: 95%
- First-generation: 17%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 21%
- Student to faculty: 10:1
- Professor salary: $225,086
- Associate professor salary: $153,130
- Assistant professor salary: $130,212
- On-campus housing capacity: 11,808
- Average SAT: 1,480
- Average ACT: 33
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the BU acceptance rate? BU admits 11% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does BU cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $11,453 a year after aid. Average net price is $24,402.
What majors does BU offer? Popular programs include Business Administration and Management, Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, Radio and Television.
What is the average salary after BU? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $83,238 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the BU graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 87% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 89%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Boston University official site: https://www.bu.edu.