Boston University (BU) is a top-ranked, private institution of higher education located in Boston, Massachusetts. BU offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs in more than 250 fields of study and is particularly known for its interdisciplinary programs, leading research, and excellent faculty. Its faculty includes several Nobel Prize winners, a poet laureate, and a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Award."
BU's main campus is its Charles River Campus, and its Medical Campus is nearby. The total campus area is 133 acres, supporting 320 buildings, 487 classrooms, 23 libraries and more than 2,000 laboratories. Despite its physical size, BU strives to have smaller class sizes, with a ratio of one teacher per 13 students. The average class size for undergraduates is 27 students.
History
Boston University was established in 1869.
Academics
Boston University (BU) follows the semester academic calendar, with fall, spring and summer semesters. BU offers 250 different programs of study from its 17 colleges and schools.
Colleges and Schools
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Graduate School of Arts & Science
- College of Communication
- College of Engineering
- College of Fine Arts
- College of General Studies
- College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
- Metropolitan College
- Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- School of Education
- School of Hospitality Administration
- School of Law
- School of Management
- School of Medicine
- School of Public Health
- School of Social Work
- School of Theology
Student Life
Boston University has 80% of its undergraduates living on campus, which means there is a strong student community on campus. Additionally, BU has more than 500 student activity groups that include academic, social, athletic, artistic, scientific and religious interests. BU is host to many annual events, including lectures and debates, music, comedy and drama.
There are several student publications, as well as WTBU, the student-run radio station, that encourage student participation. A good way for students to connect with others, navigate the academic requirements or find out what's happening on and around campus is to access "Student Central" online. This online resource provides access to academic bulletins, course descriptions, registration information, student health services, libraries, the student union, student links, a blackboard, the BU Bus schedule, BU maps, BU Bookstore hours, important dates, classes and amenities available at the FitRec Center, and more.
Athletics
The Boston University athletics department participates in 23 varsity sports. The team mascot is the Boston Terrier, and BU's athletic teams are known as "The Terriers."
Men's Sports:
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country
- Ice Hockey
- Soccer
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Wrestling
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Community Life
The BU community is vibrant and busy, with a full calendar of activities to choose from including exhibits, lectures, social gatherings, year-round events offered at the Agganis Arena, performances at the Huntington Theatre Company, and more. The FitRec Center offers individual or group exercise classes and state-of-the-art facilities for fitness and recreation.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may give an overview of the candidates BU accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at Boston University is around 32,000 students, where graduate students make up roughly 11% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition is estimated to be around $52,000 per year for in-state and nonresident students
- For part-time students, charges are between $1,500-$1,800 per unit
- May provide a prepaid tuition option, which allows tuition to be purchased at current rates for enrollment at a future date
Financial Aid Details
The table listed below helps break down the types of financial aid students receive and the percent receiving aid, as well as the average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 57% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 49% | $30,849 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 42% | $9,761 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Boston University may offer student services including:- Online classes
- Night and weekend classes available
- Academic counseling for students
- Student employment
- Assistance to find work
Graduation Rates
BU has a very high graduation rate when compared to nearby similar schools.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 80% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 5% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 0.3% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
Campus: Boston University
- Clinical Audiology (Au.D.) Program
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Dental Public Health Program
- Dietetics Program
- Endodontics Program
- English Language Program
- Health Services Administration Program
- Law Program
- Medical (M.D.) Program
- Music Program
- Occupational Therapy (OT) Program
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program
- Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Program
- Pediatric Dentistry Program
- Periodontics Program
- Prosthodontics Program
- Master's in Public Health (M.P.H.) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Theology (Ministry) Program
Campus: Boston University at Sargent College
- Dietetics Program
- * Accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (since 2013)
Intercollegiate Athletics
BU is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-AAA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Basketball (Patriot League)
- Track and Field (Patriot League)
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Boston University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Urban Planning (M)
- Architectural History and Criticism (B)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences (B, C, M)
- Biology (B, D, M)
- Neuroscience (B, D, M)
- Epidemiology (D, M)
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (B)
- Pharmacology and Toxicology (C)
- Biostatistics (D, M)
- Molecular Biology (B, D)
- Marine Biology (B)
- Conservation Biology (B)
- Bioinformatics (D, M)
- Biotechnology (M)
- Biochemistry (D, M)
- Pathology, Experimental Pathology (D, M)
- Anatomy (D, M)
- Cell Biology and Anatomical Sciences (D, M)
- Environmental Biology (B)
- Molecular Medicine (D)
- Neurobiology and Anatomy (D, M)
- Molecular Biology (D)
- Pharmacology (D)
- Biophysics (D)
- Microbiology (D)
- Genetics (D)
- Physiology (D)
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- Immunology
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, C, D, M)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (B, C)
- Risk Management and Insurance (M)
- Banking and Financial Services (M)
- Management Science (M)
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (C, D, M)
- Insurance (M)
- International Marketing (M)
- Finance and Financial Management Services (C)
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (C)
- Human Resources (M)
- Accounting
- Financial Planning
- Investments and Securities
- Human Resources Management
- Information Systems
Communications and Journalism
- Communication, General (B)
- Radio and Television (B, M)
- Journalism (B, M)
- Health Communication (M)
- Public Relations (M)
- Advertising (M)
- Broadcast Journalism (M)
- Multimedia (M)
- Communications
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Science (M)
- Computer Science (B, D, M)
- Computer Software and Media Applications (C)
- Computer and Information Sciences (C)
- Computer Networking (M)
- Computer Information Technology Services Administration and Management (C)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (M)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (C)
Education
- Music Teacher Education (B, C, D, M)
- Art Teacher Education (B, M)
- Curriculum and Instruction (D, M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- ESL (M)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (B, M)
- Health Teacher Education (M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (B, C, M)
- Physical Education (C, M)
- Science Teacher (B, M)
- Social Studies Teacher Education (B, M)
- Early Childhood Education (B, M)
- Special Education (B, D, M)
- Education, Teaching Individuals with Hearing Impairments (B, M)
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services (C, D, M)
- Foreign Language Teacher Education (B, M)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (M)
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Research (C)
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education (B)
- Teaching English or French As a Second Language (C)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (C)
- Drama and Dance Teacher Education (M)
- Education (C)
- International and Comparative Education
- Adult and Continuing Education
- Chemistry Teacher Education
- Latin Teacher Education
- Teacher and Professional Development
Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Mechanical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Computer Engineering (B, C, M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Materials Engineering (D, M)
- Systems Engineering (D, M)
- Manufacturing Engineer (M)
- Engineering (C)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering Technologies (C)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, D, M)
- Rhetoric and Composition, Writing Studies (C)
- Creative Writing (M)
- English Language and Literature, Letters (D, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Area Studies (C)
- Regional Studies (D, M)
- United States Studies (B)
- East Asian Studies (B)
- Latin American Studies (B, M)
- African-American Black Studies (M)
- Ethnic and Cultural Minority Studies (C)
- Italian Studies (B)
- East Russian Language and Literature
- European Civilization Studies
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Linguistics (B)
- Japanese Language and Literature (B)
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, M)
- French Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General (B)
- Comparative Literature (B)
- Chinese Language and Literature (B)
- Russian Language and Literature (B)
- Italian Language and Literature
- Ancient Greek Language and Literature
- Latin Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Healthcare Administration (D, M)
- Dentistry (D)
- Medicine (D)
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (B, D, M)
- Health Services (B)
- Physical Therapy (D)
- Maternal and Child Health (D, M)
- Occupational Therapy (D, M)
- Audiology and Speech Pathology (B, M)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences (B)
- Medical Lab Technician (B)
- Athletic Training (B)
- Health Preparatory Programs (C, M)
- PreMed Studies (B)
- Rehabilitation Science (B)
- Radiologic Technology (M)
- Advanced General Dentistry (C)
- Oral Biology and Oral Pathology (D, M)
- Endodontics, Endodontology (C, D, M)
- Pediatric Dentistry, Pedodontics (C, D)
- Periodontics, Periodontology (C, M)
- Environmental Health (D, M)
- Orthodontics, Orthodontology (C, D, M)
- Genetic Counseling (M)
- Medical Scientist (M)
- Prosthodontics, Prosthodontology (C, D, M)
- Clinical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions (C)
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (C)
- Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery (C)
- Dental Public Health and Education (C, D, M)
- Advanced Dentistry and Oral Sciences (C, D, M)
- Audiology, Hearing Sciences
- Dental Clinical Sciences
- Dental Laboratory Technology
- Pre-Dentistry Studies
- Kinesiotherapy
- Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
History
- History (B, D, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Nutrition (B, M)
- Systems Science and Theory (M)
- Ancient Civilization Studies (B, D, M)
- Historic Preservation and Conservation (M)
- Museum Studies
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Programs for Foreign Lawyers (M)
- Tax Law, Taxation (M)
- Banking, Corporate, Finance and Securities Law (M)
- International Business, Trade and Tax Law (M)
- Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (M)
- Paralegal
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
- Financial Mathematics (D, M)
- Math (B, D, M)
Personal and Culinary Services
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, D, M)
- Religious Studies (B, D, M)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
- Geology (B, D, M)
- Astronomy (B, D, M)
- Geophysics and Seismology (B)
Psychology
- Psychology (B, D, M)
- Clinical Psychology (M)
- Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics (M)
- Counseling Psychology (D)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (C, M)
- Public Administration (M)
- Public Administration and Social Service (C)
Security and Protective Services
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, D, M)
- International Relations (B, M)
- Political Science (B, D, M)
- Social Science (B, C, M)
- Sociology (B, D, M)
- Anthropology (B, D, M)
- Archaeology (B, D, M)
- Geography (D, M)
- Development Economics and International Development (M)
- Urban Studies (B, M)
- International Relations and National Security Studies
Theology and Religious Vocations
- Theology (D, M)
- Biblical Studies (M)
- Religious and Sacred Music (M)
- Theology and Religious Vocations (C)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Music Performance (B, C, D, M)
- Arts Management (M)
- Art History (B, D, M)
- Graphic Design (B, M)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Painting (B, M)
- Cinematography And Film (M)
- Acting (B)
- Theatre Design and Technology (B, C, M)
- Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (C)
- Sculpture (B, M)
- Directing and Theatrical Production (B, M)
- Music (B, C, M)
- Playwriting and Screenwriting (M)
- Music Theory and Composition (B, D, M)
- Musicology and Ethnomusicology (D, M)
- Conducting (D, M)
- Piano and Organ (D)
- Visual and Performing Arts (C)
- Film Studies (B)
- Printmaking (B)
- Music History, Literature, and Theory
- Theatre and Theatre Arts Management
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Boston University.
- University of Massachusetts - Boston in Boston, MA (4 miles away)
- Salem State College in Salem, MA (15 miles away)
- Framingham State College in Framingham, MA (18 miles away)
- University of Massachusetts - Lowell in Lowell, MA (24 miles away)
- Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA (26 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in Massachusetts
- Compare other Massachusetts private colleges
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Boston University for official up-to-date information.