Boston University
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students who want a large campus community. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $75,900 within 10 years; strong 89% graduation rate.
About This School
Boston University is a private nonprofit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts with approximately 18,248 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. The average net price after financial aid is $24,402 per year. The graduation rate is 89%, and the typical graduate earns $75,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
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.
This is a strong option for students who want a big-city research university with real staying power — a 95% freshman retention rate and 90% graduation rate signal that students who get in tend to thrive. The financial picture is genuinely reasonable for a selective private school, with median debt at graduation of just $21,500 and median earnings of $75,900 a decade out, meaning most graduates can manage repayment without strain. The catch is earning a spot: an 11% acceptance rate makes BU a reach for most applicants, so apply with a backup plan.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Early vs. Regular Decision
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (18,248 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: Boston University Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · Public
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA · Public
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · Public
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, MA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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