Private not-for-profit

Large

Boston University SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range1430 to 1510

ACT Range32 to 34

Average GPA3.90

Acceptance Rate11.1%

BU is test-optional, but the score range shows that submitted scores are usually a strength, not an afterthought. If you plan to submit, aim for the upper half of BU’s SAT range, around 1470 to 1510, with a 32 to 34 ACT as a comparable target.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Boston University facts and stats

Quick Facts

Boston University enrolls 18,805 undergraduates in an urban campus setting. BU has a 95% freshman retention rate, well above the national average of roughly 70%, and an 89% six-year graduation rate. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1. BU uses a test-optional admissions policy.

Location

Boston, MA

Undergrad Enrollment18,805

Freshman Retention95%

SettingUrban

Student to Faculty Ratio10:1

Graduation Rate89%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at BU?

SAT score card showing a 1520 score with an unlocked lock

Unlock your future with Acely

Adaptive SAT and ACT practice that meets you where you are and gets you to your target score.

Start your free trial

Key Boston University application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

January 5

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

November 1

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Coming soon

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to BU, plan to take your first SAT or ACT by spring of junior year, then use the summer and early fall for retakes and potential superscoring gains. For the November 1 Early Decision deadline, the October SAT or ACT is typically the last fall retake likely to arrive in time.

Want to improve your scores and unlock scholarships at Boston University?

Higher test scores can mean bigger merit awards. Acely helps you get there faster.

Start your free trial

What you'll actually pay

Tuition and Fees$68,102

Room and Board$19,020

Average Merit Award$47,920

Application Fee$80

Students on Aid37%

Average Aid Package$68,339

Average Debt at Grad$36,060

BU's listed cost of attendance is $87,122, combining $68,102 in tuition and fees with $19,020 for room and board. Aid can make the net price much lower for qualifying students, with 37% of students receiving aid and an average aid package of $68,339. Merit awards average $47,920. Students graduate with an average debt of $36,060.