At a glance
Average net price
$24,402
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
88.7%
Admission rate
11%
Undergrad size
18,248
In-state tuition
$68,102
Out-of-state tuition
$68,102
Cost of attendance
$86,285
Median earnings (10y)
$83,238
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,480
- ACT midpoint
- 33
- Retention
- 94.7%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
26 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (32%), humanities & arts (23%), social sciences (23%).
- STEM32%
- Health5%
- Business17%
- Humanities & arts23%
- Social sciences23%
- Trades & services0%
- Business17.2%~3,139 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Social sciences13.9%~2,529 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Communication12.6%~2,297 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Biological sciences11.9%~2,168 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science8.1%~1,474 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Engineering7.5%~1,367 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Psychology6.5%~1,192 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~918 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- ~624 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics2.3%~420 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~396 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Education1.6%~297 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- English1.5%~270 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~235 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~228 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- History0.8%~137 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~133 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~119 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~77 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~69 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Architecture0.4%~64 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Theology0.3%~46 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~27 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~11 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Engineering tech0.0%~4 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Legal0.0%~4 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 1,702 | $104,027 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 1,350 | $60,547 | $25,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 783 | $80,155 | — |
| Public Health. | Master's | 691 | $56,618 | — |
| Social Work. | Master's | 624 | $49,509 | — |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 612 | $53,654 | $24,500 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 599 | $82,237 | $23,250 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 581 | $36,705 | $26,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 573 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. | Master's | 493 | $87,263 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master's | 493 | $87,851 | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master's | 482 | $92,380 | — |
| Law. | First professional | 474 | $108,069 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor's | 422 | $38,920 | $25,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 398 | $32,475 | $23,750 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | Master's | 391 | $58,103 | — |
| Dentistry. | First professional | 387 | $115,398 | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other. | Master's | 359 | $37,367 | — |
| Computer Science. | Master's | 353 | $110,318 | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 334 | $34,542 | $26,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master's | 325 | $52,093 | — |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 318 | $39,106 | $25,000 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 313 | $61,274 | — |
| Marketing. | Master's | 306 | $68,346 | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | 291 | $70,003 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 289 | $38,708 | $26,000 |
| Economics. | Master's | 284 | — | — |
| Data Processing. | Master's | 280 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 273 | $69,404 | $26,400 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 271 | $30,006 | $27,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 268 | $37,633 | $26,000 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 263 | $43,129 | $19,750 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 258 | $61,357 | $26,848 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Master's | 254 | $55,843 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Master's | 250 | $52,578 | — |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 221 | $90,529 | $26,866 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Master's | 216 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | Master's | 202 | $74,311 | — |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 201 | $36,717 | $24,813 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | Bachelor's | 201 | $31,920 | $27,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Boston University
Boston University is a very large institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 18,248 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Social sciences, Communication.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Boston University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $24,402 per year, which is above the national average compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $68,102 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $86,285 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 88.7%, a strong completion outcome. 94.7% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $83,238 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Boston University confers degrees and certificates across 26 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Social sciences, Communication. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (32% of credentials), humanities & arts (23% of credentials), social sciences (23% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Boston University accepts 11% of applicants, making it highly selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,480. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 33.
Location & campus
Set in Boston, Massachusetts (city), Boston University draws students from across Massachusetts and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Boston University
Q.How much does Boston University cost?
The average net price at Boston University is $24,402 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $86,285.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Boston University?
Boston University has a 6-year graduation rate of 88.7% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Boston University?
Boston University admits 11% of applicants, which is considered highly selective.
Q.How much do Boston University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Boston University graduate earns $83,238 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Boston University?
Published tuition is $68,102 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Boston University located?
Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts (ZIP 02215).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Boston University at their official website.