Boston University Acceptance Rate

Boston University Acceptance Rate

Boston, MassachusettsLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1839established year
37557enrollment
Private (Not for Profit)
7.4/10
Shreshtha Saboo's profile photo

Shreshtha Saboo

Updated on - Mar 10, 2026

What's New in Boston University

  • Boston University’s acceptance rate is 11% in 2024. 
  • 78,769 students applied in 2024.
  • Only 8,665 students were accepted and 3,268 students enrolled at this university. 
  • Graduate acceptance rate is 44.5%.
  • MBA acceptance rate is 36%.
  • Transfer acceptance rate is 40%.
  • Currently, 1,567 Indian students are studying at this university.

Boston University has a latest acceptance rate of is 12.83% in 2025 for undergraduate students. The acceptance rate for master's students at BU is 49.7%. The acceptance rate for the MBA is 8.4% at Boston University. The recent BU Class of 2029 Profile data shows that 76,776 applicants applied for admission to Boston University in 2025, and 3,450 students enrolled at Boston University (BU).

The class of 2029 (students who were admitted in fall 2025) includes students from 173 countries and 50 states. 21% of the students in the BU Class of 2029 are international. Students from Southeast and East Asia make up the largest group of international students, accounting for 57.8% of the total.




Boston University Acceptance Rate: Class of 2029

Class of 2029 refers to the students who entered BU in the fall of 2025 to complete their bachelor's. Key details of the students are as follows:

Particulars Details
Total Applicants 76,779
Regular Decision Applicants 69,867
Early Decision Applicants 6,909
Admit Rate (Acceptance Rate) 12.83%
Enrolled 3,450 (59% early decision, 41% regular decision)
Students Submitting Test Scores (SAT, ACT) 44-45% of the total applicants
Average SAT Score 1466
Average ACT Score 32
Average GPA 3.87
International Students Percent 21%
International Students Number 3,461
Top Regions South and Southeast Asia (57.8%)

Read Also: Differences Between Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Admission


Boston University Class of 2029 Academic Profile

Here, we have added the academic profile of the students enrolled at Boston University in 2025.

Particulars Details
Mid 50% GPA range 3.7-4.0
Top 10% of High School 86% of students were in the top 10% in their high school

Boston University Class of 2029 International Profile

The students of the 2029 class came from 173 countries and 50 US states. 21% or 3,461 students in this class are international students. More details on the international student profile are tabulated below.

Particulars Details
Southeast Asia/ East Asia 57.8%
Central Asia 13.5%
Europe 11.8%
North Africa/ Middle East 6.3%
Latin America/Caribbean 4.3%
Canada 4.2%
Oceania 1.7%
Sub-Saharan Africa 0.4%

Boston University Master's Acceptance Rate

Boston University acceptance rate for master's is 49.7%. However, this is the acceptance rate for fall 2022-23, as the BU has yet to update it for fall 2024 and 2025. Check out the Boston University acceptance rate statistics for the master's program (MA / MS / MFA) below.

  • 4,959 students applied
  • 2,468 students were offered admission
  • 49.7% is the acceptance rate (as calculated from the data of the students who applied and were offered admission).

Boston University Acceptance Rate Trends

Here, we have added the number of applications received and accepted by Boston University in the last 5 years. It has helped us to calculate the acceptance rate; the latest acceptance rate is 12.83%. 

Fall Terms Acceptance Rate Application Status Undergraduate Applications
2025 12.83% - -
2024 11.1% Submitted 78,769
Accepted 8,749
2023 10.8% Submitted 80,495
Accepted 8,733
2022 15.3% Submitted 80,796
Accepted 11, 607
2021 18.6% Submitted 75,778
Accepted 14,129
2020 20% Submitted 61,007
Accepted 12,254
2019 19% Submitted 62,222
Accepted 11,785

Key Summary:

  • Boston University has yet to release its latest Common Data Set, which states the details of the 2025 number of undergraduate students who submitted the form and the number of students who were admitted.
  • But the official website of Boston University mentions the acceptance rate directly, i.e, 12.83%.
  • Acceptance rate has consistently been on the lower side from 2019 to 2026.

Boston University Freshman Waitlist

Boston University also releases the data of the Freshman waitlisted candidates (Freshmen are those students who are first-time enrolling at Boston University). The Fall 2024 data for waitlisted candidates are as follows: 

  • Total Freshman candidates on the waitlist: 15,339
  • Total candidates accepted from the waitlist: 18

Boston University MBA Acceptance Rate

Boston University's MBA acceptance rate is 8.4%. A total of 1,385 applicants applied for the Boston MBA for the September 2025 intake. Out of them, only 117 are enrolled. There are 55% male and 45% female students present in this class. Other details are given below.

Particulars Details
Acceptance Rate 8.4%
Undergraduate GPA 3.44
Average GMAT Score 633
GRE Score
  • Average GRE Quant: 161
  • Mean GRE Total: 318
Academic Background
  • 31% Engineering/Computer Science
  • 21% Business/Accounting/Finance
  • 21% Social Sciences/ Humanities
  • 19% Math/Science
  • 7% Economics
Average Work Experience 6 years
Mean Age 29
International Students 63%
International Regions
  • 36% Central & South Asia
  • 32% East & Southeast Asia
  • 11% Middle East & Africa
  • 14% Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean
  • 5% Europe
Countries Represented 29
Scholarships Received 91% students

Boston University Transfer Acceptance Rate

As per the most updated information available on the official website, Boston University's transfer acceptance rate is around 40% in 2023. The last 6-year acceptance rate trend is given below.

Fall Terms Applications Submitted Applications Accepted Acceptance Rate
2024 6,729 2,328 34.6%
2023 6,105 2,426 39.73%
2022 5,829 1,691 29.01%
2021 5,751 2,107 36.63%
2020 5,164 2,773 53.69%
2019 4,380 2,189 49.97%
2018 4,311 1,847 42.84%

Boston University has a very high and competitive acceptance rate for students taking admission in undergraduate programs as well as in the MBA. Master's acceptance rate is moderate, which provides a fair chance to students to get admitted to Boston University.


FAQs

Ques: What GPA do you need to get into BU?

Ans: Boston University typically expects a high GPA for admission. Most successful applicants have a GPA of around 3.7 to 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, which is equivalent to 90% or above in the Indian grading system. A strong academic record, especially in challenging courses, boosts your chances significantly.

Ques: Is Boston University difficult to get into?

Ans: Yes, Boston University is quite competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 12.83%. Admission is based on a holistic review of academics, test scores, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendation letters. With a strong application and well-rounded profile, you can certainly stand out.

Ques: How do I get into Boston University from India?

Ans: To get into BU as an Indian student:

  • Academic Excellence: Maintain a high GPA and perform well in standardized tests like the SAT or ACT (if required).
  • English Proficiency: Take the TOEFL or IELTS to demonstrate your language skills.
  • Compelling Application: Write strong essays, showcase leadership and extracurricular activities, and submit excellent recommendation letters.
  • Complete the Application: Apply via the Common Application or Coalition Application, and ensure you meet BU's deadlines.

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