Admission & test scores

Boston University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1420–1530 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 33. Boston University admits 11% of applicants — highly selective. 95% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1420–1530middle half of admits
ACT midpoint33admitted students
Acceptance rate11%highly selective
First-year retention95%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1420
Average
1480
75th percentile
1530

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1420 and a quarter above 1530. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 18,248.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia 1480 32 14% $12,058
University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 1480 34 17% $21,803
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1475 — 22% $67,642
Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa 1486 32 15% $68,106
Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia 1487 34 13% $68,017
University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland 1473 32 45% $11,809

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Boston University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Boston University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1420 and 1530 on the SAT, with an average of 1480. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Boston University require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 33.
How hard is it to get into Boston University?
Boston University admits 11% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 95% return for a second year.
Does Boston University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.