Boston University: Tuition, Fees and Admission Requirements

Boston University is a private institution for higher education in Boston, Massachusetts. It is known for offering high-quality programs at Bachelor’s, Master and Doctoral levels across different fields. 

If you wish to get admission to Boston University, you should be aware of Boston University Tuition, Boston University acceptance rate, Financial Aid options, and SAT requirements, among other things. This article provides you with all the relevant information and how you can increase your chances of getting an admission.

Brief Overview of Boston University

Boston University was established in 1839 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It offers 300+ courses across multiple schools and colleges distributed across 3 campuses. The university has more than 34000 students and 4000 faculty members, making it one of the largest educational institutions. The campus is spread across 175 acres, and the university follows a semester-based academic calendar.

The following are the colleges under Boston university: 

1. College of Communication
2. Arvind & Chandan Nandlal Kilachand Honors College
3. School of Theology
4. College of Fine Arts
5. Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences
6. Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
7. College of Engineering
8. Metropolitan College & Extended Education
9. School of Law
10. College of General Studies
11. School of Social Work
12. Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences
13. Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
14. Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
15. College of Arts & Sciences
16. Graduate Medical Sciences
17. Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
18. School of Public Health
19. Questrom School of Business
20. College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
21. School of Medicine
22. School of Hospitality Administration
23. Division of Military Education

Boston University Admission Requirements

1. Common Application / Coalition Application / Question Bridge Application:

This is the first step in which you start by filling out all your details. You can fill out the application using either of those mentioned above.

2. High School Transcript:

This acts as proof of your academic record and high school completion. Most colleges look for students with good academic records, which shows their potential caliber. 

3. Senior Year Grades:

Assuming you are on a semester plan, kindly have your counselor send your 1st quarter grades if available. Likewise, your counselor should submit 1st-semester grades once they are accessible. If you are on a trimester plan, have your advisor present your 1st-trimester grades once they are accessible.

4. Counselor Recommendation and School Report Form:

This is a recommendation for the incoming candidate and helps the university understand the applicant better.

5. Teacher Evaluation:

A teacher of yours must submit a teacher evaluation form.

6. Standardized Tests:

These include SAT/ACT scores. However, Boston University has made them optional, and submitting these scores are not mandatory.

Boston University Tuition 

Boston University tuition is $59,816. This may vary from college to college within Boston University and the kind of amenities and services they offer. The average tuition fee across American Universities is $41,281. This makes Boston University’s tuition higher than that of other universities.

There is a difference between Tuition fees and total cost. The tuition fee is the sticker price you pay for the course and college amenities like labs, libraries, student centers, health centers, etc. This does not include the cost of the room, board, books, food, and supplies. When you add this cost of living to the BU tuition fee, that is when you will get the Boston University Cost. Boston University Cost is $77,662

Boston University Financial Aid

Financial aid is the funding students get that they can use to pay their tuition fees. It is generally based on merit. The amount of financial aid is usually calculated based on your or your family’s income and paying capacity. The Free Application does the calculation for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA.

The average need-based scholarship granted to Boston University students was $55,248. Almost 45% of students in the first year got Boston University financial aid in the fall of 2019. There are two kinds of aid, need-based and merit-based

Need-based self-help aid incorporates federal credits and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid granted to first-year understudies was $2,644.

Merit-Based aid is usually given based on some skill or talent in a student who shows the potential for academic achievement. The average merit-based scholarship awarded to first-year students was $30,459. Boston University met 87% of student’s financial aid needs.

What you can Expect to get in Financial Aid

• Financial Assistance for 100% of demonstrated need
• Your need-based scholarship will not be reduced or changed during your 4 yrs of college.
• If the tuition fee goes up, your financial aid will also go up automatically to compensate for the same.
• If there is a change in your financial circumstances, you can apply for an increase in Financial Aid as well. This will be done on a case-to-case basis.
• Aid will be given in a combination of Scholarships, Student loans, work-study, and grants.

Boston University Acceptance Rate

Boston University has an acceptance rate of 22.1%. This places it in the category of strongly competitive. This means that for every 100 students that apply, only 22 receive admission offers. It is a highly sought-after university because of its quality education and strong reputation. Students from across the world apply to Boston University. This makes it very competitive and thus difficult to get in. The fall of 2020 saw an undergraduate enrollment of 16,872.

Boston University GPA Requirement

Boston University looks for candidates who have a strong academic record. This proves a candidate’s consistency and academic rigor. This also tells the college that you can handle academic challenges that the curriculum might throw at you.

The average GPA for Boston University is 3.71. This is a strongly competitive GPA. You will need a mix of A’s and B’s with more A’s. You should also aim for more difficult courses like AP or IB classes. Scoring well in these will push up your weighted average GPA. If you are in your final year and have a GPA of less than 3.71, you would want to get a higher SAT/ACT score to strengthen your application.

Boston University SAT Requirement

While the official website does not mention a required SAT score, the average SAT score of BU admits is 1420. This is a strongly competitive SAT score. The 25th percentile score for the New SAT exam is 1339, and the 75th percentile score is 1500. This means that a score of 1339 puts you below average, and a score of 1500 puts you at the top of applicants.

The University follows a policy of the ‘Highest Section.’ This means that you can send as many SAT scores as you like. The admissions office will choose the highest score in every section from all the tests you send.

Boston University ACT Requirement

Just like in the case of ACT, BU does not mention any cutoff for the ACT. But the average ACT score at BU is 32. This again makes it strongly competitive.

The 25th percentile score is 30, while the 75th percentile ACT score is 33.

Increasing Your Chances of Getting into Boston University

1. Meet the GPA Requirement: If you are serious about getting into Boston University, you should work on maximizing your GPA. GPA reflects your academic rigor, and it tells the University about your academic potential. You can see what GPA you need for the desired college and then work your way backward to figure out how many A’s and B’s you will need and what subjects.
2. SAT/ACT Score: Even though BU has made these exam options, having a high score in SAT/ACT will tilt the scales in your favor. If you are not submitting your SAT/ACT score, you will need to have a very high GPA and a very strong profile. It is thus advised to submit SAT/ACT scores. To score well, you should start your preparations on time and take tuition if necessary.
3. Counselor Recommendation: This is a mandatory requirement at BU. Therefore you should be on good terms with your school teachers and counselors. Look for additional responsibilities outside the classroom. This will increase your chances of getting a glowing recommendation from an academic authority.

Note:- In case you are applying for Boston University Financial Aid, to offset Boston University’s cost, you need to complete and submit a CSS Profile and FAFSA. The deadline for the same can be found on the official University website. You must be a permanent US citizen and an incoming first-year student to be eligible for financial aid.