How to Get Into Boston University: Acceptance Rate and Strategies
August 5, 2025
There is so much to like about Boston University that it鈥檚 not hard to figure out why it received over 78,000 applications for a spot in the 2024-25 freshman class. This school has experienced such a sharp rise in popularity/prestige that the Boston University acceptance rate is now a fraction of what it was just a dozen years ago (11% vs. 58%). Located in one of America鈥檚 most popular cities, BU has highly-ranked academic programs in business, engineering, design, communications, the performing arts, education, and a litany of other disciplines. This incredible flood of applications in recent years has caused the average SAT to rise more than 150 points just in the time since Barack Obama鈥檚 first inauguration.
With selectivity at an all-time high, today鈥檚 applicants need to bring a lot more to the table than those who were accepted into BU a generation ago. The intent of this article is to give those considering applying to Boston University an understanding of:
- Boston University鈥檚 Class of 2028 acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
- Boston University鈥檚 Class of 2028 ED acceptance rate
- SAT, ACT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Boston University applicants
- Admissions trends from the Class of 2028
- The demographics of current Boston University undergraduates
- Boston University鈥檚 yield rate
- How Boston University鈥檚 admissions officers evaluate candidates
- Tips for applying to Boston University
- BU Supplemental Essay Prompts
- How to assess whether applying to Boston University is even worth the $80 application fee (for you)
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Boston University鈥檚 Overall Acceptance Rate 鈥� Class of 2028
In creating the Class of 2028, BU admitted 8,749 of the 78,769 who applied in the 2023-24 admissions cycle. This translates to a Boston University acceptance rate of 11%.
Recent historical BU acceptance rates are as follows:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2027 | 80,490 | 8,733 | 11% |
| Class of 2026 | 80,796 | 11,607 | 14% |
| Class of 2025 | 75,778 | 14,129 | 19% |
| Class of 2024 | 61,007 | 12,254 | 20% |
Boston University Early Decision Acceptance Rate 鈥� Class of 2028
The Boston University Early Decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 28%鈥�6,854 students applied across both ED rounds, and 1,936 were accepted.
Those who are serious about attending BU should definitely consider applying via binding early decision. Nearly 60% of the university’s most recent first-year admits were accepted through ED. This school offers two rounds of early decision鈥擡D I in November and ED II in January.
What GPA do you need to get into Boston University?
Students who enrolled in the Class of 2028 had an average GPA of 3.9. 78% had a GPA over 3.75, and roughly half of that group had a GPA of 4.0+.
What class rank do you need to get accepted to Boston University?
100% of enrolled 2024-25 first-year students were in the top quarter of their high school class. Breaking that down further, 92% were in the top decile.
What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for Boston University?
Less than half of enrolled students submitted test scores鈥�42%, to be exact. Of that group, the mid-50% SAT score range was 1430-1510, and the mid-50% ACT range was 32-34.
Admissions Trends & Notes 鈥� Class of 2028
- BU received just over 78,000 applications for the Class of 2028, which was a slight drop from the prior year.
- 42% of applicants submitted standardized test scores alongside their applications.
- 23% of enrolled Class of 2028 students are international.
- 21% are the first in their families to attend college.
Who Actually Gets Into Boston University?
Let鈥檚 look at the demographics of Boston University undergraduates:
- Students represent all 49 states (plus Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
- They come from 70 countries around the world.
- BU is one of the top US schools for international students to pursue their undergraduate education.
As at any highly selective university, competition is toughest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from a less populated state like Hawaii, the Dakotas, or Montana, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances. Historically, Boston University likes to accept at least one student from every state.
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2028 was as follows:
- Asian American: 22%
- Hispanic: 11.6%
- Black or African American: 3%
- International: 22.6%
- White: 30%
- Two or more races: 4.6%
The breakdown by gender of the Class of 2027 is notably split in favor of women:
- Male: 38%
- Female: 57%
- Another Gender: 3.5%
While men are outnumbered, they didn’t enjoy an edge in the admissions process at BU. For the Class of 2028, 11% of both men and women were accepted.
Yield Rate
Boston University鈥檚 yield rate鈥攖he percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted鈥攚as a fairly low 37% last year. This is due to the fact that BU is competing with the same pool of students as the Ivy League and other elite institutions. As such, the university values 鈥渄emonstrated interest鈥� (more on that in a moment), especially those who are willing to commit to the school via Early Decision. For comparison, many other top private universities have superior yield rates, such as Northwestern, Duke, and Cornell University.
How BU Rates Applicants
There are only two factors that Boston University ranks as being 鈥渧ery important鈥� to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record and GPA. Factors considered 鈥渋mportant鈥� are: class rank, the essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities. This year, since the school is again test-optional for the Class of 2029, standardized test scores are merely ranked as “considered.”
BU really does value an applicant鈥檚 鈥渢alent/ability.鈥� In fact, they take great pride in touting the diverse achievements outside of the classroom of their incoming freshmen. For example, one recent freshman class included students who鈥�
- Placed third in the first season of MasterChef Junior
- Developed and patented two products to help pediatric cancer survivors
- Was a three-time World Tap Dance Champion
- Developed an algorithm to identify and fight cyberbullying
- Was named one of 鈥楢merica鈥檚 10 most outstanding teen social entrepreneurs鈥�
- Earned a bronze medal at a World Junior Figure Skating competition in Switzerland
- Built a solar-powered car
- Started a program that has donated over 15,000 pairs of lab goggles to schools across the US
- Founded a mobile app that aims to end food waste by connecting over 70 restaurants with food surpluses with approximately 1,200 customers who are seeking to purchase food at bargain prices
- Presented a paper to United Nations officials about language education for refugees in Turkey
- Runs a dance program to help elderly patients fight dementia
- Was a columnist for the South China Morning Post
- Published a picture book that was translated into three languages, an 80,000-word novel, and a poetry anthology
In the admissions office鈥檚 own words:
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for students who are likely to succeed at BU. Taking honors, AP, IB, or the most challenging courses available at your high school or college is important. But we鈥檙e also looking for students who will create a unique, diverse community at BU. Those who are doers鈥攙olunteers, entrepreneurs, and ambitious students looking to take their academic experience to new heights. That鈥檚 why we consider extracurricular activities and interests, work experience, special talents and skills, along with recommendations from teachers, counselors, community leaders, and others who know you well.鈥�
It definitely also helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of Boston University鈥檚 24 Division I sports teams or possess a unique skill like those mentioned above.
Tips for Applying to Boston University
If you plan on joining the 80,000+ BU hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- BU has continued its test-optional policy for those applying to join the university in fall 2026.
- Boston University expects to see evidence of advanced coursework in high school. Taking multiple advanced classes, particularly within your area of academic interest is a must.
- Boston University does not offer interviews so it is imperative that you stand out on your Common App and supplemental essay as well as through your teacher/counselor recommendations.
- Boston University weighs 鈥�demonstrated interest鈥� as 鈥渃onsidered鈥� in the admissions process. Therefore, you will be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, followed the school on social media, etc.
- Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essay(s) required by BU. In the 2025-26 cycle, there is one prompt that every applicant must tackle and a separate set of prompts for applicants to the and the .
All applicants must answer:
Boston University is dedicated to our founding principles: 鈥渢hat higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community鈥攍ocal and international. These principles endure in the University鈥檚 insistence on the value of diversity in its tradition and standards of excellence and its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.鈥�
With this mission in mind, please respond to one of the following two questions in 300 words or less:
- Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?
- What about being a student at BU most excites you? How do you hope to contribute to our campus community?
For detailed advice on how to tackle this essay, visit our blog entitled Boston University Supplemental Essay Prompt and Tips.
Should I apply to Boston University?
Students with SATs below 1400 and/or a 3.75 unweighted GPA will likely need a 鈥渉ook鈥� to achieve their dream of becoming a Terrier. BU, with an acceptance rate of 11%, is only hunting for students who possess 95th percentile and above standardized test scores and have earned mostly A鈥檚 in a highly rigorous high school curriculum.
Boston University Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts
If Boston University is your aim, make sure to also have a rock-solid backup plan. All students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of 鈥渢arget鈥� and 鈥渟afety鈥� schools. You鈥檒l definitely want to do this in conjunction with an admissions professional.
Need additional application-related resources? Check out the following:
- Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
- What is Demonstrated Interest?
- Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
- College Fair Advice for High School Students
- How to Complete the Common App Activities List
- Common App Essay Prompts
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
- Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
