Boston University

    Boston, MA · Private non-profit · Doctoral / R1 research university

    SAT middle 50% (admitted students)
    1420–1530
    Median ~1480
    Acceptance rate
    11%
    Enrollment
    18,248
    ACT middle 50%
    32–34

    What the numbers say about BU

    • The reported middle 50% spans 110 points, from 1420 to 1530. A planning score near or above 1570 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
    • The reported section midpoints are 700 Reading and Writing and 740 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
    • The Scorecard snapshot reports a 11% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
    • Reported outcomes include a 89% completion rate and $83,238 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.
    Understand a 1480 SAT scorePlan for a 1550Verify current admissions policy

    Tuition and outcomes

    Tuition (in-state)
    $68,102
    Tuition (out-of-state)
    $68,102
    Median earnings 10 years after entry
    $83,238
    4-year completion rate (150% time)
    89%

    Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

    How your SAT score lines up

    The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 1420 and 1530. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

    • 1570 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
    • 1530 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
    • 1480 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
    • 1420 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.
    Compare to other colleges →

    Colleges with similar SAT scores

    Ranked by proximity to BU's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

    CollegeLocationSAT middle 50%Acceptance rate
    Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA1370–154014%
    University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA1410–154017%
    Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC1410–152022%
    University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI1360–153016%
    University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD1400–153045%
    Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC1390–155013%

    FAQs

    What SAT score do I need for BU?

    Boston University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1420–1530, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1570 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

    What is BU's acceptance rate?

    Boston University's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 11%.

    How much does it cost to attend BU?

    Published tuition is approximately $68,102 per year (excludes room, board, fees).

    Is BU test-optional?

    Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Boston University's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

    Official site: www.bu.edu

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