← All colleges
Boston University

Boston University

Boston, MA · 18.2k students

Highly SelectivePrivateCityGraduateCampus-basedbu.edu
77.3/100

Trajecta score

+5.0 since '20

Ranked #48 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

72.9 · #62

2020

75.2 · #58

2021

75.6 · #58

2022

77.1 · #47

2023

77.9 · #43

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

90/ 100

Career Outcomes

83/ 100

Student Success

85/ 100

Affordability

54/ 100

Academic Investment

97/ 100

Access & Equity

40/ 100

Academic Profile

90

Career Outcomes

83

Student Success

85

Affordability

54

Academic Investment

97

Access & Equity

40

AI Fit Analysis

Unlock your AI fit analysis

See how your profile stacks up at Boston University — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.

Sign up free

Already have an account? Log in

Cost / Net Price

$86k / $24k

SAT Avg

1,480

Retention

95%

Grad Rate

89%

Admissions

11%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,480
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,420Average: 1,48075th: 1,530
ACT Range33
118243036
25th: 32Midpoint: 3375th: 34

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$68,102

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$68,102

per year

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

19%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

23%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$23,250

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

Share this score card

Download Boston University's Trajecta Score as an image.