Boston University Common Data Set
7
C. First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission Fall 2022
Men Women Total
Applicants 31,328 49,468 80,796
Offered admission 5,061 6,546 11,607
Full-time enrolled 1,475 2,159 3,634
Part-time enrolled 011
Do you have a policy of placing students on a wait-list? Yes
Total freshman applicants placed on wait-list
9643
Total freshman applicants accepting place on wait-list
5899
Total freshman applicants accepted from wait-list
3
Is wait-list ranked? No
Release wait-list information to school counselors? No
Required
English 4.0
Mathematics* 3.0
Science (with labs) 3.0
Foreign language 2.0
History/Social Studies 3.0
Academic Electives -
Computer Science -
Visual/Performing Arts -
Other -
Total 15.0
* Mathematics: requires study through pre-calculus and recommends the study of calculus.
No
Units
Required Units Recommended
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
C1. First-time, first-year (freshman) students admissions statistics
C2. Freshman wait-listed students (students who met admission requirements but whose final
admission was contingent on space availability)
C3. High school completion requirement
High school diploma is required and GED accepted; home-schooled students should contact the Office of
Admissions.
C4. Does your institution require or recommend a general college preparatory program for degree-
seeking students?
C5. Distribution of high school units required and/or recommended
20.0
C6. Do you have an open admissions policy, under which virtually all secondary school graduates
or students with GED equivalency diplomas are admitted without regard to academic record, test
scores, or other qualifications?
4.0
-
-
-
-
-
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Boston University Common Data Set
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Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school record
X
Class rank
X
Academic GPA
X
Standardized test scores
X
Application essay
X
Recommendations
X
Non-academic factors
Interview
X
Extracurricular activities
X
Talent/ability
1
X
X
Character/personal qualities
X
First generation
X
Alumni/ae relation
X
Geographical residence
X
State residency
X
Religious affiliation/commitment
X
Racial/ethnic status
X
Volunteer work
X
Work experience
X
Level of applicant's interest
X
1
Talent/ability is very important for College of Fine Arts applicants, otherwise not considered.
C7. Relative importance of each of the following academic non academic factors in your first-time,
first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admissions decisions
Very
Important Important Considered
Not
Considered
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Boston University Common Data Set
9
Yes
SAT or ACT (no preference) Considered if Submitted
ACT with writing component required
ACT with writing component recommended
ACT with or without writing component accepted
SAT with essay component required
SAT with essay component recommended
SAT with or without essay component accepted
Not using essay component.
Yes
January 4
N/A
D. In addition, does your institution use applicants' test scores for academic advising?
E. Latest date by which SAT or ACT scores must be received for fall-term admission.
Latest date by which SAT Subject Test scores must be received for fall-term admission.
C8. Entrance exams
A. Does your institution make use of SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test scores in admissions decisions for first
-
time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants?
B. If your institution will make use of the ACT in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-
seeking applicants for Fall 2022, please indicate which ONE of the following applies:
If your institution will make use of the SAT in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking
applicants for Fall 2022, please indicate which ONE of the following applies:
C. Please indicate how your institution will use the SAT or ACT writing component.
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Boston University Common Data Set
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F. Test Policy
a
Boston University has decided to remain test optional for students applying for admission through fall 2025 and
spring 2026. Our test optional policy applies to all undergraduate schools and colleges at BU, as well as all
scholarship programs. While the admissions process at Boston University has always been holistic and decisions
have never been solely based on one single factor, such as an SAT or ACT score, the move to test optional over
the past two years has improved our process by adding considerable weight to the important qualities and
characteristics that focus more on you and your academic and personal accomplishments. Applicants will have the
ability to indicate whether they would like us to consider their standardized test scores when they apply.
International students will still be required to submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo English Test* as the primary
means for evaluating English-language proficiency.
a
Requirements for the TOEFL and IELTS tests are available on our admissions website
(www.bu.edu/admissions).
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Boston University Common Data Set
11
TOEFL and IELTS Tests
SAT Yes
ACT Yes
SAT Subject tests N/A
AP Yes
CLEP No
Institutional Exam Yes
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of any student for whom English is not the native
or first language. Students who are most competitive for admission will have a composite score of at least 90-100
and minimum scores of 20 in each section. The average TOEFL score for students admitted to Boston University
is 107. The Board of Admissions looks closely at the score for each section as well as for consistency across all
subscores within each single language proficiency test.
IELTS: In lieu of the TOEFL exam, you may submit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A
score of 7 or higher will also satisfy BU’s English Language proficiency requirement for all programs. Learn more
on the IELTS website.
CFA School of Music Notes: Candidates are required to audition for admission.
Check College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for audition schedules.
Candidates for the Theory and Composition program must audition and present a portfolio.
CFA School of Theatre Arts Notes: Candidates for the Acting and Theatre Studies Programs must audition for
admission. Candidates for the Design, Production and Stage Management Programs must present a portfolio in an
interview with the faculty. Check the College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for audition and portfolio
preparation schedules.
CFA School of Visual Arts Notes: Candidates are required to submit a portfolio.
Check College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for instructions.
G. Please indicate which tests your institution uses for placement (all schools/programs)
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Boston University Common Data Set
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% Submittin
g
Number 25th 50th 75th
SAT I 23%
823
660 700 730
SAT Math 690 740 770
ACT 12%
448
SAT Composite 1370 1430 1480
ACT Composite 31 33 34
ACT English 32 34 35
ACT Math 28 31 34
ACT Writing 33 33 33
ACT Reading 32 34 36
ACT Science 30 33 35
Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students with scores in each range
SAT I
Distribution
700-800 1400-1600
600-699 1200-1399
500-599 1000-1199
400-499 800-999
300-399 600-799
200-299 400-599
ACT
Distribution Composite English Math Reading Science Writing
30-36 90% 88% 70% 87% 78% 90%
24-29 7% 9% 26% 10% 18% 7%
18-23 3% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3%
12-17 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
6-11 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
below 6 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Top 10% 87%
17%
Top 25% 99%
Top 50% 100%
Bottom 50% 0%
Bottom 25% 0%
4.00 38%
3.75 - 3.99 37%
3.50 - 3.74 24%
3.25 - 3.49 1%
3.00 - 3.24 0%
2.50 - 2.99 0%
2.00 - 2.49 0%
1.00 - 1.99 0%
Below 1.00 0%
SAT Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing
Evidence-Based SAT
Reading & Writing Math Composite
C9. Percent and number of first-time, first-year (freshman) students enrolled in Fall 2022 who
submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.
Percentiles
4% 3% 2%
0% 0% 0%
51% 72% 66%
45% 25% 32%
C10. Percent of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school
class rank within each of the following ranges
Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students
who submitted high school class rank:
C11. Percent of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had
high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale)
0% 0% 0%
0% 0% 0%
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Boston University Common Data Set
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3.88
Percent of total freshman submitting high school GPA 100.0%
Is there an application fee? Yes
Amount of application fee $80
Can it be waived for applicants with financial need? Yes *
* Students should speak with high school guidance counselors to request the submission of a fee waiver.
Does your institution have an application closing date? Yes
January 4 for fall admissions
Yes, in most programs
By April 1
Must reply by May 1.
Deadline for housing deposit: Enrollment deposit due May 1 (no separate housing deposit)
Amount of housing deposit: Enrollment deposit - $650
Refundable if student does not enroll? No
Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?
Yes, Deferred admission is allowed with a maximum postponement of one year (freshmen only).
C12. Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students
who submitted GPA
C13. Application fee
C14. Application closing date
C18. Deferred admission
December 1 for Trustee Scholar, Presidential Scholar, and Thomas M. Menino Scholar programs.
C15. Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
C16. Notification to applicants of admission decision sent
C17. Reply policy for admitted applicants
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Boston University Common Data Set
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No
Yes
First or only early decision plan closing date November 1
First or only early decision plan notification date December 15
Other early decision plan closing date January 4
Other early decision plan notification date February 15
Number of early decision applications received by your institution 6309
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan 1599
Details about early decision plan
No
C19. Early admission of high school students
Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time,
first-time (freshman) students one year or more before high school
graduation?
C20. No longer on the Common Data Set
C21. Early Decision
Does your institution offer an early decision plan for first-time, first-
year (freshman) applicants for fall enrollment?
Only available for high school seniors applying for September admission; some programs do not have an Early
Decision option. If admitted, students must send in the required enrollment deposit by January 15 for Early Decision
and by February 15 for Early Decision 2. Applicants must withdraw applications to other colleges and universities. A
statement of understanding, acknowledging the binding nature of this program must be signed by student,
counselor, and parent/guardian.
C22. Early Action
Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are
notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular
notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?
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