# BU SAT Scores: Admissions Range & Acceptance Rate | 1600.now Source: https://1600.now/college/boston-university --- ## Boston University SAT scores and admissions Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about) Boston, MA · Private non-profit · Doctoral / R1 research university SAT middle 50% (historical enrolled scores): 1420–1530 · Range midpoint ~1480 Acceptance rate: 11% Enrollment: 18,248 ACT middle 50%: 32–34 The figures above are the stored federal Scorecard snapshot, imported April 25, 2026. Its fields can cover different reporting years. Current university profiles below can describe a different cohort or applicant group. ### How BU compares - Its SAT rank in the stored federal dataset is #15 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #3 of 11 in MA. - Its 11% acceptance rate is more selective than 95% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool. - Reported section midpoints skew 40 points toward Math (740 Math vs 700 Reading and Writing). - Median earnings 10 years after entry ($83,238) are $20,172 above the $63,066 median across that pool. National SAT rank: #15 of 197 SAT rank in MA: #3 of 11 More selective than: 95% of ranked colleges Earnings vs national median: +$20,172 ### What the numbers say about BU - The reported middle 50% spans 110 points, from 1420 to 1530. A planning score near or above 1570 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee. - The reported section midpoints are 700 Reading and Writing and 740 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split. - The Scorecard snapshot reports a 11% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability. - Reported outcomes include a 89% completion rate and $83,238 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation. [Understand a 1480 SAT score](https://1600.now/sat-score/1480) [Plan for a 1550](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1550-sat) [Verify current admissions policy](https://www.bu.edu/) ### Tuition and outcomes Tuition (in-state): $68,102 Tuition (out-of-state): $68,102 Median earnings 10 years after entry: $83,238 4-year completion rate (150% time): 89% Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; our snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. [Read the methodology](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf). ### How your SAT score lines up The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between **1420** and **1530**. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate. - **1570 SAT planning target:** Above the reported middle-50% range, not an admission guarantee. - **1530 SAT (reported 75th percentile):** At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range. - **1480 SAT (range midpoint):** Within the reported range; not a measured median. - **1420 SAT (reported 25th percentile):** At the lower end of the reported middle-50% range. At or above 1530 Strong relative score At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores. 1420–1520 Within the reported range Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record. Below 1420 Below the reported range Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake. [Compare to other colleges →](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) ### Colleges with similar SAT scores Ranked by proximity to BU's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds. | College | Location | SAT middle 50% | Acceptance rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Grinnell College](https://1600.now/college/grinnell-college) | Grinnell, IA | 1410–1540 | 15% | | [University of Virginia-Main Campus](https://1600.now/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus) | Charlottesville, VA | 1410–1540 | 17% | | [Washington and Lee University](https://1600.now/college/washington-and-lee-university) | Lexington, VA | 1430–1540 | 14% | | [Rhode Island School of Design](https://1600.now/college/rhode-island-school-of-design) | Providence, RI | 1400–1530 | 19% | | [Boston College](https://1600.now/college/boston-college) | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1440–1540 | 16% | | [Davidson College](https://1600.now/college/davidson-college) | Davidson, NC | 1400–1530 | 13% | ### Questions about BU #### What SAT score do I need for BU? Boston University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1420–1530, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1570 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff. #### What is BU's acceptance rate? Boston University's historical College Scorecard snapshot reports approximately 11%. This is a past institution-wide applicant pool, not an individual admission probability. #### How much does it cost to attend BU? Historical published tuition is approximately $68,102 per year (excludes room, board, fees). #### Is BU test-optional? The College Scorecard does not record testing policy, and this page has not checked Boston University's current rule. Confirm whether it is test-optional, test-required, or test-blind on its admissions page before you apply. Official site: [www.bu.edu](https://www.bu.edu/)