Questrom School of Business 2025-2026: Rankings, Admissions (~8%), Concentrations, Salary & Career Data

Questrom is BU's business school, ranked #16 nationally for undergraduate business (Poets & Quants, 4 consecutive years in top 20). It has an acceptance rate of approximately 8% -- significantly more competitive than BU's overall ~12.8%. Every undergrad earns a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and chooses from 13 concentrations (Finance, Marketing, Accounting, etc.). The employment rate is 99% within 6 months with an average starting salary of $73,827 and top employers including PwC, EY, Deloitte, JPMorgan, and Amazon. The school is housed in the Rafik B. Hariri Building on Commonwealth Avenue with 15 Bloomberg Terminals and 40+ classrooms. Over 2,500 undergrads and 250+ full-time faculty -- about one-third of whom rank in the top 2% of scientists globally per Stanford University's study.

Undergraduate:

• #16 Best Undergraduate Business Schools (Poets & Quants 2025) -- 4th consecutive year in top 20

MBA / Graduate:

Publication	Rank
U.S. News -- Full-Time MBA	#46 (up from #50)
U.S. News -- Part-Time MBA	#29 (up from #33)
Bloomberg Businessweek	#46
Financial Times -- Global MBA	#74 worldwide
Financial Times -- U.S. MBA	#34 (up 3 spots)
QS World -- Global MBA	#35
QS -- MS in Business Analytics	#25
Research Ranking (North America)	#30 (up 19 spots)

Online MBA:

• 2,200 students enrolled from 60+ countries
• Completable in as few as 24 months, 100% online
• Total tuition approximately $25,000
• Highest Net Promoter Score (65) among online MBA programs per Inside Higher Ed

The undergraduate ranking (#16) is the one most prospective students care about. Questrom has been climbing steadily, and the combination of career outcomes and relatively lower cost compared to Wharton/Stern/Ross makes it a compelling value proposition.

Questrom is significantly more competitive than BU overall:

Metric	Questrom	BU Overall
Acceptance Rate	~8%	~12.8%
Average SAT	1,457	1,466
Average GPA	3.89	3.87
% in Top 10 of HS Class	50%	86% (top 10%)
Applications (Fall 2023)	11,684	76,779
Application growth since 2018	33%+	--

Questrom requires (or strongly recommends) a year of calculus (or precalculus + AP Statistics) as a prerequisite. Strong quantitative skills are valued heavily.

Internal Transfer (IUT) to Questrom:

If you're at BU in another school and want to switch to Questrom:

• Minimum 3.5 GPA required
• Must have completed a college-level calculus course
• Applications accepted after first semester, generally no later than end of first semester junior year
• CGS students cannot apply directly -- must first transition to CAS
• IUT is competitive; a 3.5 GPA is the minimum, not a guarantee

BU's test-optional policy applies to Questrom. 26% of Questrom undergrads are international students, and 21-23% are first-generation college students.

Every Questrom undergrad earns the same degree -- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) -- requiring a minimum of 132 units (typically 4 courses x 4 units x 8 semesters).

13 Required Core Courses (52 units):

• SM 131 -- Business, Markets & Society
• AC 221 -- Financial Accounting
• BA 221 -- Data and Business Analytics
• FE 223 -- Introduction to Financial Management
• IS 223 -- Information Systems and Emerging Technologies
• LA 245 -- Business Law, Contracts & Regulation
• MK 223 -- Marketing: Concepts to Consumers
• MO 221 -- Leading People & Teams
• OM 223 -- Creating Value with Operations
• SI 422 -- Strategy, Innovation, and Global Competition (capstone)
• SM 275 -- Critical & Analytic Thinking for Business
• SM 303 -- Digital/Multimedia Expression
• XP 298 -- Innovation Project (real consulting projects for actual companies)

Additional Requirements:

• 2 Economics courses (EC 101 + EC 102 or CAS equivalents)
• 1 Calculus course (MA 121 or MA 123)
• CAS WR 120 (First-Year Writing)
• 3 career development seminars (1 unit each)
• XP 301 -- Global Experience requirement (study abroad, international internship, or designated coursework)

Electives:

• 5 Questrom business electives (20 units) -- these fulfill your concentration
• 7 non-management electives outside Questrom (28 units)
• 3 free electives (12 units)

Gateway Requirements: You must earn minimum grades of C in SM 131, AC 221, EC 101, and MA 121/123 (and C- in WR 120) before advancing to 300-level Questrom courses. This is a hard gate -- students who struggle in these courses face delayed progression.

All BSBA students must complete at least one concentration (4-5 courses depending on curriculum year):

1. Accounting -- CPA-track preparation, audit and tax focus
2. Business Analytics -- data science for business decisions
3. Finance -- corporate finance, investments, financial modeling
4. Global Business -- international trade, cross-cultural management
5. Independent Concentration -- student-designed with faculty approval
6. Information Systems -- tech management, digital transformation
7. Innovation & Entrepreneurship -- startup strategy, venture design
8. Law -- business law, regulatory compliance, contracts
9. Management & Organizations -- leadership, organizational behavior
10. Marketing -- consumer behavior, brand strategy, digital marketing
11. Operations & Supply Chain -- logistics, process optimization
12. Real Estate -- property development, investment, finance
13. Strategy -- competitive positioning, corporate strategy

Important: A single course cannot count toward multiple concentrations. You can also pursue minors through any other BU school (CAS, COM, ENG, etc.) -- at least 12 units of minor coursework must be unique and not overlap with BSBA requirements.

The concentration/minor/graduation form is due by March 1 of junior year, so you have time to explore before committing.

Questrom required courses fulfill 18 of the Hub's 26 total units automatically. Here's what's covered:

Covered by required courses:

• Social Inquiry I & II (through EC 101/102 and MA 121)
• Global Citizenship (through EC 102 and SI 422)
• Ethical Reasoning (through SM 131)
• Quantitative Reasoning I & II (through BA 221 and MA 121/123)
• First-Year Writing + Writing Research & Inquiry + Writing Intensive (through WR 120, SM 275, SI 422)
• Oral/Signed Communication (through SM 275)
• Digital/Multimedia Expression (through SM 303)
• Critical Thinking (through EC 101, MA 121)
• Research & Information Literacy (through SM 303, SM 275)
• Creativity/Innovation (through SI 422, SM 303)
• Teamwork/Collaboration (through MO 221, SM 303)

What you still need to fulfill through electives:

• Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
• Aesthetic Exploration
• Historical Consciousness
• Scientific Inquiry I
• The Individual in Community
• Additional Global Citizenship and Communication units

This is where your 7 non-management electives and 3 free electives become strategic. Choose courses that knock out remaining Hub requirements while exploring interests outside business. BU's Class Search tool lets you filter by Hub requirement to find eligible courses.

Questrom's career numbers are its strongest selling point:

Undergraduate (Class of 2024):

Metric	Value
Employment rate (within 6 months)	99%
Employment rate (within 90 days)	96.7%
Average starting salary	$73,827
Average signing bonus	$6,675 (received by 41.3%)
Internship completion rate	98.2%

Top Undergraduate Employers: PwC, EY, Deloitte, JPMorganChase, Amazon

MBA Career Outcomes:

Metric	Value
Median salary	$124,277
Geographic placement	58% Northeast, 13% West, 9% Overseas
Top employers	Amazon, Apple, Aon, BCG, Deloitte, Google, Microsoft, Pfizer

Top Industries for Graduates: Technology, Healthcare, Consulting, Financial Services

The Feld Career Center (Questrom's dedicated career office) runs employer info sessions, resume workshops, mock interviews, and on-campus recruiting. The 98.2% internship completion rate means nearly every Questrom student has professional experience before graduating.

Douglas Hannah, Assistant Professor of Strategy & Innovation, was named 2022 Best Undergraduate Professor by Poets & Quants -- a signal of the teaching quality that feeds into these outcomes.

Rafik B. Hariri Building (HAR) -- 595 Commonwealth Avenue:

Opened in 1996, Hariri is Questrom's home base. Features include:

• Six-story atrium with Sergio Castillo's sculpture Earth Orbit
• 40+ Parliamentary-style classrooms
• 375-seat lecture hall
• 5 computer labs
• Multiple team/breakout rooms
• Frederick S. Pardee Management Library

Bloomberg Terminals (15 total):

• 8 terminals in HAR 328 (Open Access Lab) -- available to all Questrom students
• 7 terminals in HAR 427 (Graduate Resource Center) -- graduate students only
• BU also offers Bloomberg Certificate preparation through the library

Computer Labs:

• HAR 328 (Open Access): 29 workstations, 3 printers, scanning station -- open to all Questrom students, course-enrolled students, alumni, and Humphrey Fellows
• HAR 427 (Graduate Resource Center): 7 Windows + 3 Mac computers, BU ID card access
• HAR 314 (Teaching Lab): reservable for instructional use

Behavioral Research Lab:

Opened 2011. Seats up to 20 subjects for in-person behavioral research. Also operates an E-Lab (virtual research lab) for online studies on consumer behavior, decision-making, and management. Restricted to Questrom-affiliated researchers.

Questrom's experiential learning is built into the required curriculum, not just an add-on:

Cross-Functional Core Project (XP 298 -- Innovation Project):

Required junior-year course and Questrom's "signature" experience. Students work on real consulting projects for actual companies -- not hypothetical case studies.

Global Experience Requirement (XP 301):

Every BSBA student must fulfill this 1-unit requirement through:

• Study abroad (BU programs in Dublin, London, LA, Shanghai, Sydney, DC)
• Partner exchange programs (Copenhagen Business School, Seoul National University, Singapore Management University, Bocconi University)
• Approved international internship
• Designated coursework (if abroad isn't feasible)

Consulting & Competitions:

• BU Consulting Group and 180 Degrees Consulting provide ongoing real-world project work
• Case competitions against 200+ schools
• Global consulting trips over Spring Break to Brazil, Peru, Mexico, South Africa

Built in Boston: Program connecting Questrom students with Boston-area companies for hands-on experience

UROP: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program offers funded, faculty-mentored research for interested students

Questrom has its own ecosystem of 38+ clubs beyond BU's 450+ university-wide organizations:

Professional & Industry:

• BU Consulting Group + 180 Degrees Consulting (real client work)
• Financial Modeling Club + Capital Management Club
• Real Estate Club (BURE) -- hosts "the world's most prominent undergraduate real estate guest speaker series"
• Marketing Club (BUMKC) -- four committees, open campus-wide
• Analytics Club, Fintech Club, Sports Business Club, Music Business Club
• Health and Life Sciences Club, Fashion & Retail Association
• Personal Finance Club, International Business Club

Identity & Diversity:

• herNetwork (women in business)
• Black Business Student Association (BBSA)
• ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America)
• Questrom Korean, Questrom Spectrum, United Better Me

Professional Fraternities & Honors:

• Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Chi Theta
• Lock Honorary Business Society
• DECA, Tamid Group

Leadership:

• Dean's Hosts (ambassadors for prospective students)
• Dean's Fellowship in Social Impact
• Questrom Student Government

Questrom clubs are generally open to all BU students, not just Questrom majors -- so CAS or COM students interested in business can participate.

Questrom Honors Program:

• Sophomore Year: SM 450 Honors Seminar (research, innovation, business consulting)
• Junior/Senior: Two 2-unit seminars on specialized topics
• Senior: SM 460 Capstone Project with faculty mentorship (research, consulting, or innovation track)
• Requirements: minimum 16 units per term, 2 off-site experiential learning activities
• Recognition: "Awarded School Honors" on transcript + individual commencement recognition

Dual Bachelor's Degrees:

Students can simultaneously pursue BSBA + a degree from another BU school. Requirements:

• Apply no later than first semester of junior year
• Complete all requirements of both degrees
• Minimum 160 units (vs. 132 for BSBA alone)
• At least 3 additional semesters beyond standard

Graduate Dual Degrees:

• MBA + JD (with BU School of Law, including accelerated 3-year track)
• MBA + MA International Relations (Pardee School)
• Health Sector MBA + MD (BU School of Medicine)
• MBA + MPH (BU School of Public Health)
• MBA + MA Economics (GRS)

Study Abroad:

Questrom-specific programs in Dublin, London, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Sydney, and Washington D.C. Partner exchanges at Copenhagen Business School, Seoul National University, Singapore Management University, and Bocconi University.

One-third of Questrom's full professors rank in the top 2% of scientists globally according to Stanford University's citation study. Over 20 faculty members were named among the world's most impactful researchers.

Notable Faculty:

• Susan Fournier -- Allen Questrom Professor & Dean
• Marshall Van Alstyne -- Allen & Kelli Questrom Professor, Information Systems (platform economics expert)
• Iain Cockburn -- Richard C. Shipley Professor, Strategy & Innovation
• Chrysanthos Dellarocas -- Shipley Professor, Information Systems
• Andrei Hagiu -- Professor, Information Systems
• Steven Kou -- Allen & Kelli Questrom Professor, Finance
• Andrew King -- Allen & Kelli Questrom Professor, Strategy & Innovation
• William Kahn -- Department Chair, Management & Organizations (organizational psychology)
• Michel Anteby -- Everett W. Lord Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Management & Organizations
• Douglas Hannah -- Named 2022 Best Undergraduate Professor by Poets & Quants

By the numbers:

Metric	Value
Full-time faculty	250+
Undergraduate students	2,500+
Student-to-faculty ratio	~14:1
Average class size	~30 students
Alumni worldwide	54,000+
Countries represented	85+ (undergrad), 158+ (all programs)

Quick history:

• 1913: Founded as Boston University College of Business Administration
• 1970s: Renamed to School of Management (SMG) -- this is why older alumni and some students still call it "SMG"
• 1996: Rafik B. Hariri Building opens at 595 Commonwealth Avenue
• 2015: Renamed Questrom School of Business following a major naming gift from Allen Questrom, former CEO of JCPenney and Federated Department Stores (now Macy's Inc.)
• AACSB Accredited: Yes (the gold standard for business school accreditation)

The naming was significant -- Questrom (the person) is known for turning around struggling retail companies, and his gift was one of the largest in BU history. The school's identity shifted from "SMG" to "Questrom" relatively recently, and you'll still hear both names on campus.