Boston University

Boston, MA

Boston University

Boston, MA

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Could Boston University be the right school for you?

Boston University is a world-recognized teaching and research university located in the heart of Boston. Our campus is constantly buzzing with activity and energized by the surrounding city.

Academics 
At BU, we’re serious about learning. That’s why we launched a new major in Data Science and are building a new Center for Computing and Data Sciences. BU’s newest academic unit complements and connects various disciplines through the language of computation and data. With a small student-faculty ratio, faculty include Fulbright Scholars, a MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a former Poet Laureate. You can select from more than 300 programs of study, and as early as your freshman year, you can get involved in cutting-edge research with faculty mentors through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Popular majors include Biomedical Engineering, Business, Communications, International Relations, and Psychology.

Global opportunities 
BU is an established global research university with over 33,500 students. Plus, BU offers a premier study abroad program, with 70+ opportunities in more than 20 cities and 15 countries. Your classmates will challenge you with perspectives from all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world.

Diversity on campus 
Since its founding in 1839, the University has been committed to equal opportunity for everyone and diversity—from racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity to diversity of thought. We were the first university in the nation to award a PhD to a woman and a medical degree to a Native American, and we are the alma mater of the first African American psychiatrist in the United States. In addition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received his PhD in Theology from BU in 1955. Today, you can enjoy the activities and sense of community provided by the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, which connects you with all the diverse cultural, social, and academic networks on campus. The recently created Newbury Center, located in the center of campus, allows a space for first-generation students to engage with other students like them. BU also offers 24 Division I sports teams; more than 40 intramural and club sports; pre-professional cultural clubs such as the Black Business Student Association; and more than 450 student organizations, including Alianza Latina, American Civil Liberties Union, Inner Strength Gospel Choir, Minority Association for Social Change, and UMOJA (Black Student Union). Admitted students from multicultural backgrounds are also invited to a multicultural community weekend.

Financial aid 
We know attending a private university requires an investment for students and families. BU invests in you too by making merit scholarships and need-based financial aid available to help meet your expenses. Last year, we awarded $240 million in scholarships to undergraduate students. And the BU Scholarship Assurance guarantees aid offered the first year will be renewed in succeeding undergraduate years. Included in our merit awards are the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship and the $20,000 Presidential Scholarship. Visit bu.edu/finaid to learn more. 

The city of Boston 
Over 75% of undergraduate students live all four years on our residential campus in the heart of Boston. You'll have access to museums, the historic Freedom and African American Heritage Trails, and the vibrant artistic, music, cultural, and literary venues throughout the city. Boston also offers valuable connections between your course work and the community. You can participate in countless clinical and research projects or intern with one of the many local businesses, biotech firms, or media outlets located here. And there are numerous possibilities for part-time jobs in just about any field. 

ACCOLADES

 

#7 among campuses with the most international students | Open Doors

 

Ranked #10 for employability in the US | Times Higher Education

 

#41 among “Best Colleges” | U.S. News & World Report

 

Ranked #22 overall in the World | World University Rankings - Times Higher Education

BU Fast Facts

3,634
Class of 2026

17,004
Undergraduates  

30
Average class size

11:1 
Student-faculty ratio

4,187
Faculty members

90% 
Full-time professors with PhD or equivalent

Class of 2026 Averages
Rank in class:
 84% rank in top 10%
GPA: 3.8–4.0
Test requirements: SAT/ACT test optional

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