Boston University
Common Data Set 2025-26
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Acceptance Rate
12.8%
Applications
76,776
Admitted
9,853
Enrolled
3,449
SAT Composite
1420-1510
SAT Math
720-780
SAT Reading
700-750
ACT Composite
33-34
How the class gets assembled.
Early Decision offeredNo Early Action reportedSecond binding round indicated; ED rate is blended.
Likely ED share of class63%2,165 ED admits / 3,449 enrolled first-years
ED admit-rate multiple2.8x31% ED vs 11% all other rounds
Seats left after ED1,284of 3,449 enrolled first-year seats
All-other admit rate11%7,688 admitted from 69,869 applicants
Applicants, admits, and class seats use separate stage scales so Early Decision and all other rounds stay readable.
Each column is scaled within that stage. Labels show exact counts.
Applicants6,907reported count
Admits2,16531%
Class seats2,165assumes ED admits enroll
Applicants69,869reported count
Admits7,68811%
Class seats1,28417% estimated yield
Exact admission data
| Path | Applicants | Admitted | Admit rate | Class seats | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 6,907 | 2,165 | 31% | 2,165 | Likely class seats assume ED admits enroll. |
| All other rounds | 69,869 | 7,688 | 11% | 1,284 | All other rounds are residual CDS totals, not exact Regular Decision. |
Class-seat estimate assumes ED admits enroll. CDS does not report confirmed ED enrollment, so likely ED class seats are calculated as the smaller of ED admits and enrolled first-years.
Overall yield: 35%. Published yield blends high-commitment ED admits with the rest of the admitted pool.
Read the ED rate carefully. Published ED rates can include recruited athletes, legacy applicants, and institutional-priority applicants. The general-pool ED rate can be lower.
Offered a spot15,751
Accepted a spot9,448
Admitted from wait listn/a
n/a joined after being offered a spot. n/a of students who joined were admitted.
Exact wait-list data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Offered a wait-list spot | 15,751 |
| Accepted a wait-list spot | 9,448 |
| Admitted from wait list | n/a |
| Joined after being offered | n/a |
| Admitted after joining | n/a |
Wait-list outcomes can change sharply year to year.
Application fee: $80. Fee waivers are reported as available.
This school marks applicant interest as Considered. Read yield and wait-list behavior with that policy in mind.
Federal outcomes
Federal data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, vintage 2022-23. Outcomes reflect earlier cohorts than the CDS year shown elsewhere on this page.
$83,238
10 yrs after enrollment
89%
6-year completion
$24,402
sticker minus grants
$23,250
federal loans only
All Extracted Fields
424fields parsed from this CDS.
Enrollment And Persistence
3 TABLESFirst-Time, First-Year Admission
7 TABLESTotal first-time, first-year who applied8,059
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted1,075
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled500
Total first-time, first-year who applied50,764
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted5,908
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled2,138
Total first-time, first-year who applied15,794
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted2,521
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled714
Total first-time, first-year who applied2,159
Total first-time, first-year who were admitted349
Total first-time, first-year who enrolled97
Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:15,751
Number accepting a place on the waiting list:9,448
Total academic units15
English4
Mathematics3
Science3
Foreign language2
Social studies3
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-80077
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-69923
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-5991
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Total100
SAT Math: 700-80086
SAT Math: 600-69913
SAT Math: 500-5990
SAT Math: Total100
SAT Composite: 1400-160088
SAT Composite: 1200-139911
SAT Composite: 1000-11990
SAT Composite: Total100
ACT Composite: 30-3697
ACT Composite: 24-293
ACT Composite: 18-230
ACT Composite: Total100
Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class86
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class98
Percent in top half of high school graduating class100
Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class0
Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class0
Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:14
Total0
Total0
Percent who had GPA of 4.036
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.7427
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.491
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.240
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.990
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.990
Percent who had GPA below 1.00
Total100
Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:3.86
Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:100
Does your institution have an application fee?Yes
Amount of application fee:80
Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?Yes
Can on-line application fee be waived for applicants with financial need?Yes
Does your institution have an application closing date?Yes
Application closing date (fall): Month1
Application closing date (fall): Day5
Priority Date: Month12
Priority Date: Day1
Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?Yes
Yes, by:X
Date: Month4
Date: Day1
Must reply by (date)X
Date: Month5
Date: Day1
Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD):Month5
Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD): Day1
Amount of housing deposit:650
Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?Yes
If yes, maximum period of postponement:Deferred admission is allowed with a maximum postponement of one year (freshmen only).
Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation? (FT)No
Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?Yes
Other early decision plan closing date: Month1
Other early decision plan closing date: Day5
Other early decision plan notification date: Month2
Other early decision plan notification date: Day15
Number of early decision applications received by your institution6,907
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan2,165
Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?No
If you have an application fee and an on-line application option, please indicate policy for students who apply on-line:X
Transfer Admission
3 TABLESHigh school transcriptRequired of All
College transcript(s)Required of All
Essay or personal statementRequired of All
InterviewRequired of All
Standardized test scoresRequired of All
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)Required of All
List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:Please see Boston University web site as well as The Undergraduate Programs Bulletin for specifics relating to your program of interest. https://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer/ (College of Fine Arts candidates must present a portfolio or participate in an audition.) See website for details See the list of majors to make sure your program of interest is open to transfer students. Transfer applicants must declare a major when they apply. https://www.bu.edu/admissions/why-bu/academics/majors/ Boston University Analytical Services Institutional Research 2025-2026 Boston University Common Data Set 12
Fall Closing Date: Month15
Fall Closing Date:Day1
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution:68
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution:credit
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution:68
Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution:credit
Number68
Unit Typecredit
Academic Offerings and Policies
2 TABLESCross-registrationX
Distance learningX
Double majorX
Dual enrollmentX
English as a Second Language (ESL)X
Exchange student program (domestic)X
Honors ProgramX
Independent studyX
InternshipsX
Liberal arts/career combinationX
Student-designed majorX
Study abroadX
Teacher certification programX
Undergraduate ResearchX
Other (specify):X
Specify:Cooperative (W ork-Study) Program: College of Engineering only; Field study in Environmental/Ecological Science in
Computer literacyX
English (including composition)X
Foreign languagesX
HumanitiesX
MathematicsX
Sciences (biological or physical)X
Social scienceX
Student Life
3 TABLESPercent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)82%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing99%
Percent who live off campus or commute1%
Percent of students age 25 and older0%
Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)79%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing57%
Percent who live off campus or commute43%
Percent of students age 25 and older1%
Average age of full-time students18
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)18
Average age of full-time students20
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)20
Campus MinistriesX
Choral groupsX
Concert bandX
DanceX
Drama/theaterX
International Student OrganizationX
Jazz bandX
Literary magazineX
Marching bandX
Model UNX
Music ensemblesX
Musical theaterX
OperaX
Pep bandX
Radio stationX
Student governmentX
Student newspaperX
Student-run film societyX
Symphony orchestraX
Television stationX
YearbookX
Annual Expenses
4 TABLESPlease provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:https://www.bu.edu/finaid/families-counselors/college-cost-estimators/
Financial Aid
5 TABLESFederal$27,712,872
State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$3,119,425
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$448,520,277
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$2,564,204
Total Scholarships/Grants$481,916,778
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$10,023,880
Federal Work-Study$9,758,980
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$0
Total Self-Help$19,782,860
Parent Loans$6,196,675
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$2,564,204
Athletic Awards$2,671,828
Federal$536,224
State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$39,550
Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$27,156,717
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$3,537,569
Total Scholarships/Grants$31,270,060
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$42,468,172
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$0
Total Self-Help$42,468,172
Parent Loans$23,673,604
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$3,537,569
Athletic Awards$17,508,132
Provide the number of students in the 2024 undergraduate class who started at your institution as first-time students and received a bachelor's degree between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exclude students who transferred into your institution.2,025
AcademicsX
ArtX
AthleticsX
LeadershipX
Music/dramaX
AcademicsX
ArtX
Music/dramaX
If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details below: Students entering as Freshmen who are Pell Grant eligible students who complete their financial aid application by Boston University's published deadline and demonstrate need will be awarded financial aid packages which contain no loans and meet their full institutional demonstrated need. To ensure access to a BU education regardless of family means, our “affordableBU” program guarantees first-year undergraduate US students 100% financial assistance for demonstrated need for all four years, and our successful Pell Grant program guarantees eligible students a loan-free aid package. Boston University Analytical Services Institutional Research 2025-2026 Boston University Common Data Set 22
Instructional Faculty And Class Size
2 TABLESbased on ____ students2,025