Boston University
Boston, United States — www.bu.edu
- QS Ranking
- #108
- Founded
- 1839
- Type
- Private Research University
- Students
- 36,000+
- Acceptance Rate
- ~14%
- Founded
- 1839
- QS Rank
- #108 (2025)
- BSL-4 Lab
- One of few in US (pandemic research)
- Alumni
- Martin Luther King Jr. received his PhD here
Overview
Boston University (BU), founded in 1839, is one of the largest and most research-intensive private universities in the United States and a leading institution in Boston's world-class academic ecosystem. Ranked #108 in QS 2025, BU is comprehensive and particularly strong in communications (College of Communication, #1 US for broadcast journalism), business (Questrom School, strong finance and accounting), law, medicine (BU Medical School and Boston Medical Center), and engineering. BU's linear campus stretches 2 miles along the Charles River, connecting Kenmore Square to Boston's academic row on Commonwealth Avenue. Boston's unparalleled concentration of universities (Harvard, MIT, BU, Northeastern, Tufts, BC all within 5 miles) creates the world's densest academic ecosystem.
Admission Process
Common Application. EA: November 1. Regular: January 2. SAT/ACT optional. TOEFL 90+/IELTS 6.5+. Acceptance ~14% (most competitive in BU history). International programs available in many departments.
Programs at Boston University
- MSc Computer Science (Master's) — 28,000 USD/year
- Master of Business Administration (Master's) — 36,000 USD/year
- MSc Data Science & AI (Master's) — 45,000 USD/year
- Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) (Bachelor's) — 52,000 USD/year
- Master of Science in Engineering (Master's) — 28,000 USD/year
- PhD in Natural Sciences (PhD) — 36,000 USD/year
- BSc Computer Science (Bachelor's) — 22,000 USD/year
- BSc Business Administration (Bachelor's) — 28,000 USD/year
- BSc Economics (Bachelor's) — 32,000 USD/year
- BA International Relations (Bachelor's) — 38,000 USD/year
- BSc Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's) — 45,000 USD/year
- BSc Civil Engineering (Bachelor's) — 22,000 USD/year
- BSc Electrical Engineering (Bachelor's) — 28,000 USD/year
- Executive MBA (MBA) — 40,773 USD/year
- MA Education (Master's) — 47,145 USD/year
- MSc Psychology (Master's) — 54,515 USD/year