Boston University

www.bu.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$66,670

4.5% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$24,420

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

11.1%

78,769 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

37,737

77.5% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

88.7%

3,191 Graduates

About

Boston University is a higher education institution located in Suffolk County, MA. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Boston University were General Business Administration & Management (1,062 degrees awarded), Social Work (344 degrees), and Computer Science (284 degrees).

In 2024, 13,233 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Boston University. 58.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 41.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,419 degrees), 2.54 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,740 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Boston University is $66,670, which is $34,750 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

About the photo: BU Central

Photo by Mark Zastrow

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Boston University is $66,670, which is $34,750 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $24,420.

In 2024, 50% of undergraduate students attending Boston University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 23% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$66,670

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Boston University was $66,670. The cost of tuition at Boston University is $34,750 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Boston University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$24,420

2024 Value

11.4%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Boston University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $24,420. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Boston University grew by 11.4%.

This chart compares the average net price of Boston University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$18,110

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Boston University was of $18,110 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 4.08% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Boston University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

50%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

23%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

50% of undergraduate students at Boston University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 4.17% with respect to 2023, when 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Boston University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Boston University received 78,769 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 2.14% annual growth. Out of those 78,769 applicants, 8,749 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 11.1% acceptance rate.

There were 37,737 students enrolled at Boston University in 2024. 33% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Boston University has an overall enrollment yield of 37.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

11.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

8,749

Accepted Out of 78,769

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Boston University was 11.1% (8,749 admissions from 78,769 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 10.8%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 2.14%, while admissions grew by 0.183%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Boston University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

33%

Submission Percentage (2024)

1,083

Scores Submitted (2024)

33% of enrolled first-time students at Boston University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Boston University had a total enrollment of 37,737 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Boston University is 29,259 students and the part-time enrollment is 8,478. This means that 77.5% of students enrolled at Boston University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Boston University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 33.2% White, 15.9% Asian, 9.48% Hispanic or Latino, 5.11% Black or African American, 3.58% Two or More Races, 0.0556% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0477% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Boston University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (19.3%), followed by White Male (12.9%) and Asian Female (10.8%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (19.8%), followed by White Male (11.5%) and Asian Female (6.3%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

77.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Boston University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 37,737 students. The full-time enrollment at Boston University is 29,259 and the part-time enrollment is 8,478. This means that 77.5% of students enrolled at Boston University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Boston University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

95%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Boston University was 95%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Boston University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Boston University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
12,524 enrolled students
Asian
6,013 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
3,579 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Boston University is 33.2% White, 15.9% Asian, 9.48% Hispanic or Latino, 5.11% Black or African American, 3.58% Two or More Races, 0.0556% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0477% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2,392 students (6.34%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 2,139 more women than men received degrees from Boston University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Boston University is white (4,419 degrees awarded). There were 2.54 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,740 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Boston University is General Business Administration & Management (1,062 degrees awarded), followed by Social Work (344 degrees) and Computer Science (284 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Boston University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Communications (889 degrees awarded), Legal (517 degrees), and Biology (1,208 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Boston University are Other managers (488,046 people), Physicians (438,557 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (407,744 people), Postsecondary teachers (265,581 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (244,445 people).

The most specialized majors at Boston University in 2024 are Communications (889 degrees awarded), Legal (517 degrees), Biology (1,208 degrees), Math & Statistics (287 degrees), and Social Sciences (961 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Boston University are Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at Boston University are Communications (889 degrees awarded), Legal (517 degrees), Biology (1,208 degrees), Math & Statistics (287 degrees), and Social Sciences (961 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Boston University are Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (665,164 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (664,389 people), Elementary & secondary schools (662,617 people), Computer Systems Design (414,139 people), and Legal services (345,884 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Boston University.

Most Common (2024)

Other Social Sciences
75 degrees awarded
Other Rhetoric, Composition, or Writing Studies
28 degrees awarded
Other Business, Management, Marketing, & Related Support Services
26 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Boston University was Other Social Sciences with 75 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Boston University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

5,547

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

7,686

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 5,547 degrees were awarded to men at Boston University, which is 0.722 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (7,686).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Boston University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 1,026 degrees were awarded to men at Boston University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.36 times more than the 752 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 752 degrees were awarded to men at Boston University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.733 times less than the 1,026 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

83%

100% Completion Time

89%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 83% of students graduating from Boston University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Boston University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.3% of graduates (137 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
4,419 degrees awarded
Asian
1,740 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,126 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Boston University is white (4,419 degrees awarded). There were 2.54 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,740 degrees).

4.19% of degree recipients (555 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
3,042 degrees awarded
White Female
2,982 degrees awarded
White Female
2,959 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Boston University is white female (3,042 degrees awarded). There were 1.02 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,982 degrees).

Operations

Boston University has an endowment valued at nearly $3.53B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 357M (10.1%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Boston University had a total salary expenditure of 2.54B. Boston University employs 508 Professors, 444 Lecturers and 346 Associate professors. Most academics at Boston University are Male Professor (347), Female Lecturer (249), and Male Lecturer (195).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Boston University are: Management, with 1,173 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 918 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 879 employees.

Endowment

$3.53B

2024 Endowment

12.4%

growth from 2023

Boston University has an endowment valued at about $3.53B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Boston University grew 12.4% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $3.28B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Boston University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$370M - Federal
$10.2M - State
$328k - Local

As of 2024, Boston University received $370M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $10.2M from state grants and contracts, and $328k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$1.1B

2024 Salaries

6.87%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Boston University paid a median of $1.1B in salaries, which represents 43.4% of their overall expenditure ($2.54B) and a 6.87% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.32% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 8.05% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$316M

Instructional Salaries

1,990

Number of Employees

In 2024, Boston University paid a total of $316M to 1,990 employees working as instructors, which represents 28.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Boston University were Management with 1,173 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 918 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 879 employees.

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