A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Value
    A
  3. Diversity
    A
  4. Campus
    A-
  5. Athletics
    A-
  6. Party Scene
    A
  7. Professors
    A+
  8. Location
    A
  9. Dorms
    C+
  10. Campus Food
    A+
  11. Student Life
    A
  12. Safety
    C+
View Full Report Card
Boston University is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I (without football)
Athletic Conference
Patriot League
Address
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
Website
bu.edu

Boston University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
33%
SAT Range
1200-1410
ACT Range
27-31
Application Fee
$80
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for Boston University

Cost

Net Price
$32,732/ year
National
$15,403
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $21,015/ year
  • $30-48k
    $22,538/ year
  • $49-75k
    $26,724/ year
  • $76-110k
    $31,544/ year
  • $110k+
    $46,978/ year

Academics

Professors
A+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
12:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
73%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.183 responses
58%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.189 responses
43%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.189 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management
    878 Graduates
  • Communications
    347 Graduates
  • Psychology
    272 Graduates
  • Economics
    227 Graduates
  • International Relations and National Security Studies
    213 Graduates
  • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
    159 Graduates
  • Health Service Preparatory Studies
    155 Graduates
  • Mechanical Engineering
    146 Graduates
  • Rehabilitation and Therapy
    134 Graduates
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
    131 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
16,585Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
2%
Pell Grant
14%
Varsity Athletes
4%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 122 responses
Report
  • Diverse
    32%
  • Motivated
    31%
  • Intelligent
    25%
  • There is no typical student
    6%
  • Intellectual
    3%
  • Altruistic
    1%
  • Basic
    1%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
99%
Poll
54%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.238 responses
Poll
54%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.280 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 137 responses
Report
  • Diverse
    44%
  • Scholarly
    14%
  • Competitive
    12%
  • Wide ranging
    8%
  • Exciting
    8%
  • Awesome
    4%
  • Many research opportunities for incoming freshmen!
    3%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$60,600/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
85%
National
48%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
93%
National
83%
78%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.133 responses
Colleges like Boston University
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Boston University Reviews

3,069 reviews
All Categories
I've completed one year at BU, and I love the experiences I've had there so far! I have made incredible friends from all over the US and the world. All of the professors I have had the pleasure of being taught from were all very caring for their students, and take pride in the subjects that they teach. My professors freshman year were some of the most intelligent individuals I have ever met, and look forward to what other intellects I will meet at the rest of my time at BU. As for social life, the party scene is fun at first but hanging out with friends in the city or just in the dorms is where my real memories were made. The hockey games are a must though! The food served in the dining halls is some of the best in all of the US universities. There is lots of variety for students with dietary restrictions and there is always something you'll like everyone you visit! Overall, I'm excited to see what else BU brings my way in the next 3 years!
Review Boston University
Boston University is an institution that within one semester has taught me the value of balance, friendships and motivation. What makes Boston University so unique is the students' ability to be bot intellectual yet socially and culturally aware, well socialized and happy. Yes, towards finals week things may get more stressful and the work is very challenging but through it you get to know a lot about yourself, what you can handle and what you can do to prepare yourself best for a successful experience at the University. Another thing that makes Boston U unique is the fact that there are so many resources on and off of campus that can make your experience more dynamic than just going to another great school in the Northeast. Research labs, internships, corporations and the notable alumni and professors all act as accessible tools to help cultivate and enrich your experience beyond the books.

If I had the option I would choose Boston University again. Despite this being my first semester at the University, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. The culture, the overall vibe, the people and the appreciation and longing for academic and cultural enrichment cannot be matched! If you are looking for a University where you can meet the smartest yet most interesting people ever- Boston University is the place. Go Terriers!
Hockey is a huge part of the school culture and almost everyone attends the games. And of course, Soccer's "Terrier Tailgate" is the biggest back-to-school event. Besides that, varsity sports do not really dominate campus life at Boston University.

The Fitness and recreation center (Fitrec) is one of the best-kept facilities on campus. It offers a myriad of classes for credit, from marathon running to Zumba. There are also several external not-for-credit classes. The facilities are incredible, with several courts, weight lifting rooms, an athletic pool and a lazy river, and a rock wall. There are rooms for any kind activity available, such as dance and yoga classes and basketball. I cannot find anything bad to say about fitrec - nearly everybody uses it, and it is super well kept and feels new although it is now 10 years old. There is also a super yummy smoothie bar in the corner with healthy refreshers for after you exercise!