Boston University (BU) 2025-2026: Rankings, Stats, Costs & Complete Guide

• Rankings: #42 US News, #88 QS World, #38 Niche, #76 Times Higher Education
• Acceptance rate: 12.83% (Class of 2029) -- down from 54% just 15 years ago
• Cost: $94,427 sticker price, but the average net price is $27,551 thanks to a $473 million aid budget
• Size: 37,737 total students (18,805 undergrad), 17 schools and colleges, 300+ programs
• Campus: ~141 acres along Comm Ave in Back Bay/Kenmore, with the Charles River as your backyard
• President: Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam (started July 2024) -- BU's first Black and first female president

BU is not a small liberal arts school. It's a massive, globally connected research university ($579.5 million in research expenditure) that happens to sit in one of America's best college cities. The scale means more options than almost any private university -- but it also means you'll need to find your own community.

BU's rankings vary significantly depending on the system, but the overall picture is clear: it's a top-40 national university with growing global prestige.

Overall rankings:

Program-specific rankings:

The trajectory: BU has risen dramatically in rankings over the past decade. The QS World jump from #108 to #88 in a single year is particularly notable -- BU now outranks several Ivies in global research reputation. Research expenditure ($579.5 million, #16 among US privates) drives this trajectory.

BU's selectivity has transformed in a generation. The acceptance rate has plummeted from 54% (Class of 2012) to 12.83% (Class of 2029).

The ED advantage is massive: Early Decision applicants face a ~29% acceptance rate vs. an estimated 5-7% for Regular Decision. If BU is your top choice, ED is the single biggest lever you can pull.

BU is test-optional through Fall 2028. Only 45% of enrolled students submitted scores -- significantly lower than peer schools like Boston College (74%). If your SAT is 1430+ or ACT is 32+, submitting likely helps.

For the complete breakdown, see our [BU Acceptance Rate](/admissions/bu-acceptance-rate/) and [BU SAT Scores](/admissions/bu-sat-scores/) guides.

The sticker price is eye-watering. The actual net price is far more reasonable.

The BU Promise (Class of 2031+):

• First-year aid packages include no loans -- all grants and scholarships
• Families earning under $200K: aid covers full tuition + a percentage of room and board
• BU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for US citizens and permanent residents

For the full breakdown, see our [Boston University Cost](/financial/boston-university-cost/) and [BU Financial Aid](/financial/bu-financial-aid/) guides.

BU's academic breadth is its defining feature. With 17 schools and colleges offering 300+ undergraduate and 350+ graduate programs, there are very few things you can't study here.

The 17 schools and colleges:

1. College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) -- BU's largest, 20+ departments
2. Questrom School of Business -- #16 undergrad (Poets & Quants)
3. College of Engineering -- #27 graduate (US News)
4. College of Communication (COM) -- #8 nationally (Niche)
5. College of Fine Arts (CFA) -- music, theater, visual arts
6. Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
7. School of Law -- #22 (US News)
8. Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
9. School of Public Health -- #7 (US News)
10. Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
11. School of Theology
12. Metropolitan College (MET) -- part-time and online programs
13. College of General Studies (CGS) -- two-year undeclared program
14. Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies -- international relations
15. College of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) -- BU's newest college
16. School of Social Work
17. Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

1. Business Administration & Management
2. Computer Science
3. Communication/Journalism
4. Biology/Biomedical Sciences
5. Psychology
6. Engineering
7. Economics
8. Health Professions

• Student-faculty ratio: 10:1
• Research expenditure: $579.5 million (#16 among US privates)
• BU has a medical school, law school, AND dental school on campus -- rare for a private university
• The BU Hub general education system is interdisciplinary and flexible (unlike BC's rigid theology/philosophy requirements)
• Study abroad: BU runs programs in 30+ countries through BU Abroad

BU's campus is unlike any traditional university. There are no gates, no quad, no clear boundary between campus and city. The university stretches 1.5 miles along Commonwealth Avenue in Boston's Back Bay and Kenmore Square neighborhoods.

Key landmarks:

• Marsh Chapel (735 Comm Ave) -- the iconic campus centerpiece
• BU Beach -- the grassy stretch along the Charles River behind Marsh Chapel
• Warren Towers (700 Comm Ave) -- largest dorm, houses 1,800 first-year students
• George Sherman Union (GSU) -- main student center
• Mugar Memorial Library -- the main library
• Agganis Arena -- 6,150-seat venue for hockey and concerts
• Nickerson Field -- outdoor athletics venue
• BU Bridge -- connects campus to Cambridge across the Charles River
• Tsai Performance Center -- performing arts venue

The honest take: You either love or hate the urban campus. There's no idyllic quad to throw a frisbee in (BU Beach comes close but it's a narrow strip). What you get instead is Boston itself as your campus -- Fenway Park is walking distance, the Charles River Esplanade is your jogging path, and Allston's restaurants are your extended dining hall.

BU's size is both its greatest strength and its biggest challenge. With 37,737 students, there is genuinely something for everyone -- but you have to go find it.

By the numbers:

• 450+ student organizations -- from academic clubs to cultural associations to recreational sports
• 27% international students -- students from 100+ countries
• No Greek fraternities or sororities -- BU banned them in the 1980s
• 24 varsity sports teams -- Patriot League (most sports) + Hockey East (hockey)
• Hockey is king -- Agganis Arena sellouts, 5 NCAA championships, 32 Beanpot titles

Dining: Marciano Commons and Warren Towers dining halls are the main hubs. BU's dining has improved significantly in recent years but still draws mixed reviews. The convenience points system lets you eat at retail locations across campus.

Social life: Without Greek life, BU's social scene is decentralized. It revolves around friend groups, student organizations, Allston apartments (for upperclassmen), and Boston itself. Hockey games at Agganis are the closest thing to a traditional college social event. This can feel isolating at first -- but the students who thrive at BU say the independence is what they came for.

The adjustment: BU's size means you won't accidentally bump into your classmates at the dining hall. You need to be intentional about building community. Students who join organizations early, attend floor events in their dorm, and show up consistently tend to find their people by mid-freshman year.

BU's alumni network spans 400,000+ graduates worldwide. Here are some of the most notable:

In history:

• Martin Luther King Jr. -- PhD in Systematic Theology (1955), Nobel Peace Prize, Civil Rights leader

• Julianne Moore (CFA) -- Academy Award-winning actress
• Geena Davis -- Academy Award-winning actress
• Marisa Tomei -- Academy Award-winning actress
• Jason Alexander -- actor (George Costanza on Seinfeld)

• Howard Stern (COM) -- broadcaster and media personality
• Nina Totenberg -- NPR Supreme Court correspondent
• Bill O'Reilly -- television host

• Robert Kraft (MBA) -- owner of the New England Patriots
• Tipper Gore -- former Second Lady of the United States

• Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam -- 11th president (started July 1, 2024). BU's first Black and first female president. Previously Vice Provost at Ohio State. Pediatrician and public health researcher.
• Endowment: $3.5 billion (as of June 2024, up 12.3%)

• BU has sent more players to the NHL than any other university
• Macklin Celebrini -- #1 overall NHL Draft pick (2024)
• Jack Eichel -- NHL star, Hobey Baker Award winner
• Rick Pitino -- Basketball Hall of Fame coach (started his career at BU)

BU's closest comparison points are other top-40 private research universities in the Northeast:

BU vs. Boston College: Nearly identical acceptance rates, but BU is 2x larger, $5K/year cheaper in net price, secular, and urban. BC is suburban, Jesuit, and has stronger football/ACC sports. See our [full comparison](/boston/boston-college-vs-boston-university/).

BU vs. Northeastern: Both are large urban Boston universities, but Northeastern has a lower acceptance rate and a co-op program that's central to its identity. BU has a more traditional 4-year academic experience and stronger graduate/professional schools.

BU vs. NYU: Both are massive urban universities with no traditional campus. NYU is in New York and costs more. BU has a more cohesive campus along Comm Ave vs. NYU's scattered Greenwich Village buildings. See our [full comparison](/comparison/bu-vs-northeastern/).

'BU is what you make of it. It's big enough that you can disappear if you want to. But if you put yourself out there -- join clubs, go to office hours, show up to hockey games -- you'll find an incredible community. It just doesn't come to you.' - Senior, CAS

'The academic range is insane. My roommate is pre-med in Sargent, my suitemate is in COM studying film, and I'm in Questrom. We all go to the same school but have completely different college experiences.' - Junior, Questrom

'People who say BU doesn't have a campus haven't walked along Comm Ave on a fall afternoon. Marsh Chapel, BU Beach, the river -- it's gorgeous. It's just not a traditional campus with gates and quads.' - Sophomore, CAS

'The BU Promise changed everything for my family. We expected to pay $60K+. Our actual cost was under $20K. That $473 million aid budget is real.' - First-year, Engineering

'I came for the research opportunities and they delivered. By sophomore year I was in a lab at the medical school working on Alzheimer's research. That doesn't happen at a small liberal arts school.' - Junior, CAS Biology

'Martin Luther King got his PhD here. Howard Stern went here. Julianne Moore went here. The diversity of people who came out of BU tells you everything about the diversity of the place itself.' - Senior, COM