Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Boston University is a private national university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston University is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Boston University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $75,642 10 years after enrolling, 13th in Massachusetts, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Boston University bachelor students earn 19% more than the national average. Boston University is ranked 13th in Massachusetts.
Boston University’s median net annual cost of $30,395 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Boston University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Comms & Media Studies, Economics, Psychology, International Relations, Computer Science - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$30,395
Average years to graduate
4.1
Computer Engineering
Rank: #69
Economic score: 1.41
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #47
Economic score: 2.03
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #204
Economic score: 2.42
Mathematics
Rank: #131
Economic score: 3.2
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #32
Economic score: 5.11
Biology
Rank: #251
Economic score: 5.6
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #19
Economic score: 5.78
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #292
Economic score: 6.43
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Rank: #69
Economic score: 7.65
Physiology & Pathology
Rank: #28
Economic score: 20.12
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Boston University - Business Administration, Social Work, Computer Systems Analysis, Quantitative methods Mgmt., Finance, Public Health - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.16
Computer Science
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.22
Marketing
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.22
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #65
Economic score: 0.48
Advertising & PR
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.53
Legal Research
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.53
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #37
Economic score: 0.68
Ecology & Evolution
Rank: #13
Economic score: 0.96
Theological Studies
Rank: #26
Economic score: 1.08
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Rank: #6
Economic score: 3.4
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 88% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Boston University is 16% higher than the state average, and 20% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Boston University, Pell Grant recipients represent 17% of the measured graduating class, 18% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Boston University graduates within 4.1 years.
Boston University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Boston University’s economic mobility score of 15.41 is calculated by adjusting the 1.13 economic score of lower-income students by the 17% pell grant recipients within the student body. Boston University’s EMS of 15.41 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Boston University pays $30,395 a year, $47,267 less than the $77,662 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $30,395
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Boston University, 53% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $30,395 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 26% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,475. This is 28% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,317
Pell grants
$5,033
State grants
$3,410
Institutional grants
$47,824
Boston University offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. At the master’s level Boston University offers 27 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
28
Hybrid programs
28
Percentage of programs online
10%
Boston University's very selective admissions are indicated by their 19% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 75,778 applicants, of which 14,129 were admitted and 4,011 enrolled. Boston University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
98%
83%
Female
65%
59%
First time
86%
59%
In-state
15%
68%
1st generation
17%
35%
White
35%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
12%
15%
Asian
19%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
30%
12%