- Acceptance rate: 11% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.86, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- SAT, middle 50%: 690–750 reading and writing, 730–780 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 32–34 composite
- Average net price: $27,551 a year (2022–23)
Boston University GPA calculator
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what Boston University reported: an average GPA of 3.86 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 11% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 32–34.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Boston University reviews each application.
Boston University average GPA
Boston University reported an average high school GPA of 3.86 for its first-year students, in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
Boston University acceptance rate
Boston University admitted 8,749 of 78,769 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 11%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Boston University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Boston, Massachusetts, with 18,805 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Boston University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 690 | 720 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 730 | 760 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| ACT English | 33 | 35 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 29 | 32 | 35 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1480 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Boston University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Boston University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $27,551 a year at Boston University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Boston University?
Highly selective: fewer than 1 in 4 applicants got in. Boston University admitted 11% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Is a 3.5 GPA good enough for Boston University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Boston University admitted 11% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?
Boston University's acceptance rate was 11% for fall 2024: it admitted 8,749 of 78,769 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What SAT and ACT scores do Boston University students have?
The middle 50% of Boston University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 690–750 in reading and writing and 730–780 in math; ACT composite 32–34, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What GPA do you need to get into Boston University?
Boston University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.86, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Boston University?
Check Boston University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Boston University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 33% sent SAT scores and 10% sent ACT scores.
How important is GPA for getting into Boston University?
A lot: Boston University requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school class rank, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What is the average net price at Boston University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $27,551 a year at Boston University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Boston University?
Yes. Boston University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at Boston University if a parent went there?
No. Boston University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Boston University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Boston UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- Boston University Common Data Set 2025–26Boston University: average high school GPA of first-year students.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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