Boston University Acceptance Rate
Boston, Massachusetts · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 80,495
- Admitted
- 8,733
- Yield
- 36%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · School-reported CDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Boston University's acceptance rate has fallen from 34.5% in 2014–15 to 10.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 54,190 to 80,495 (+49%) over that period.
Its 10.8% rate makes Boston University more selective than about 98% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 61 tracked Massachusetts schools, it is more selective than about 89%.
Boston University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 36% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Reported by Boston University in its Common Data Set. Source ↗
- Applicants
- 80,495
- Admitted
- 8,733
- Acceptance
- 10.8%
- Yield
- 36%
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 54,190 | 18,701 | 34.5% | 3,915 |
| 2015–16 | 54,781 | 17,871 | 32.6% | 3,629 |
| 2016–17 | 57,441 | 16,907 | 29.4% | 3,552 |
| 2017–18 | 60,825 | 15,273 | 25.1% | 3,498 |
| 2018–19 | 64,481 | 14,247 | 22.1% | 3,612 |
| 2019–20 | 62,224 | 11,786 | 18.9% | 3,156 |
| 2020–21 | 61,007 | 12,254 | 20.1% | 2,914 |
| 2021–22 | 75,778 | 14,129 | 18.6% | 4,011 |
| 2022–23 | 80,796 | 11,607 | 14.4% | 3,635 |
| 2023–24 | 80,495 | 8,733 | 10.8% | 3,145 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 48,314 | 4,827 | 10% |
| Men | 32,176 | 3,906 | 12.1% |
| Another gender | 5 | 0 | 0% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 680–740 | 28% |
| SAT Math | 720–780 | |
| ACT Composite | 32–34 | 10% |
How Boston University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Boston University's acceptance rate?
Boston University's acceptance rate is 10.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (8,733 admitted of 80,495 applicants).
Is Boston University test optional?
Boston University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Boston University?
Boston University received 80,495 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 8,733.
What SAT score do you need for Boston University?
Admitted students at Boston University typically scored 680–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 720–780 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Boston University getting harder to get into?
Boston University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 34.5% in 2014–15 to 10.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.bu.edu/.