Boston University

Boston, MA
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Class of 2029
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Key Facts

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    Faculty & Research

    889 faculty · 160 courses · data as of 2026-07-02

    International Relations and National Security Studies44 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 18.3 #39 of 127 in Social Sciences
    Rachel Brule, Associate Professor of Global Development Policy h-index 9
    International Development Recent News Brulé Wins Prestigious NSF Career Award for Women’s Empowerment Research Faculty Rachel Brulé and Mahesh Karra Earn Promotions to Associate Professor Brulé Discusses Gender Quotas and Power in Ind
    Notable: “Women's inheritance rights reform and the preference for sons in India” (2018) · 126 citations
    Igor Lukes, University Professor, Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History h-index 6
    Notable: “National Cleansing: Retribution Against Nazi Collaborators in Postwar Czechoslovakia” (2006) · 56 citations
    Andrew David, Lecturer h-index 1
    Also include the evolution of the federal government and the national security state as well as the history of international relations. His work has appeared in Diplomacy and Statecraft and on H-Diplo. Specialization View All Profiles More
    Notable: “The Kennedy Administration and the Battle over Foreign Aid: The Untold Story of the Clay Committee” (2016) · 3 citations
    Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus; Professor of International Relations and Earth & Environment
    Courses: Fundamentals of International Politics · Fundamentals of Strategic Intelligence · America Abroad: Debating the U.S. and the World since 1789 · Globalization and World Poverty · Europe and International Relations · Introduction to Comparative Politics +14 more
    Computer Science40 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 30.8 #33 of 88 in Computer Science
    Ran Canetti, Wang Professor of Computer Science h-index 81
    Span multiple aspects of cryptography and information security, with emphasis on the design, analysis and use of cryptographic protocols. Selected Publications R. Canetti, Universally Composable Security: A New Paradigm for Cryptographic Pr
    Notable: “Universally composable security: a new paradigm for cryptographic protocols” (2001) · 3,288 citations
    Kate Saenko, Professor h-index 75
    In the broad area of Artificial Intelligence with a focus on Adaptive Machine Learning, Learning for Vision and Language Understanding, and Deep Learning.
    Notable: “Long-term recurrent convolutional networks for visual recognition and description” (2015) · 5,283 citations
    Stan Sclaroff, Professor & Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences h-index 70
    In computer vision, pattern recognition, and machine learning. He is an expert in the areas of tracking, video-based analysis of human motion and gesture, deformable shape matching and recognition, as well as image/video database indexi
    Notable: “Photobook: Content-based manipulation of image databases” (1996) · 1,564 citations
    Mark Crovella, Professor h-index 64
    Center on improving the understanding, design, and performance of networks and networked computer systems, mainly through the application of data mining, statistics, and performance evaluation. He has made contributions to understanding the
    Notable: “Self-similarity in World Wide Web traffic: evidence and possible causes” (1997) · 2,703 citations
    Courses: Introduction to Computing · Introduction to Internet Technologies and Web Programming · Introduction to Databases and Data Mining · Programming for Non-CS Majors · Introduction to Computer Science 1 · Introduction to Computer Science 2 +14 more
    Economics40 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 22.5 #30 of 104 in Economics
    Kevin Lang, Laurence A. Bloom Professor of Economics h-index 61
    Notable: “Phoneme recognition using time-delay neural networks” (1989) · 2,642 citations
    Laurence J. Kotlikoff, William Fairfield Warren Professor of Economics h-index 61
    Notable: “Dynamic Fiscal Policy.” (1989) · 1,764 citations
    Raymond Fisman, Slater Family Professor in Behavioral Economics h-index 60
    Es primarily on money in politics and corruption. His work has appeared in leading economics journals including the American Economic Review , Journal of Political Economy , and Quarterly Journal of Economics , and it has been widely covere
    Notable: “Estimating the Value of Political Connections” (2001) · 3,036 citations
    Robert G. King, Professor h-index 58
    Notable: “Finance and Growth: Schumpeter Might Be Right” (1993) · 8,600 citations
    Courses: Introductory Microeconomic Analysis · Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis · Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis · Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis · Empirical Economics 1 · Empirical Economics 2 +14 more
    Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology39 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 30.2 #3 of 33 in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
    Richard B. Primack, Professor h-index 81
    Notable: “COVID-19 lockdown allows researchers to quantify the effects of human activity on wildlife” (2020) · 658 citations
    Thomas Gilmore, Professor h-index 58
    Notable: “Introduction to NF-κB: players, pathways, perspectives” (2006) · 2,218 citations
    Katya Ravid, Professor of Biochemistry, Biology h-index 56
    Notable: “Deletion of Cavin/PTRF Causes Global Loss of Caveolae, Dyslipidemia, and Glucose Intolerance” (2008) · 352 citations
    Daniel Segre, Professor of Biology, Bioinformatics h-index 53
    Notable: “Analysis of optimality in natural and perturbed metabolic networks” (2002) · 1,401 citations
    Courses: Introductory Biology for Health Sciences · Biology 1 · Biology 2 · Biology 2 (Discussion) · Human Infectious Diseases · Biology 2 with Integrated Science Experience 1 Lab +14 more
    Government24 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 15.2 #41 of 100 in Political Science
    David Mayers, Professor of History and Political Science h-index 30
    Notable: “On the Corporate Demand for Insurance” (1982) · 625 citations
    Taylor Boas, Professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies; Department Chair h-index 26
    Notable: “Neoliberalism: From New Liberal Philosophy to Anti-Liberal Slogan” (2009) · 609 citations
    Timothy P. Longman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Professor of Political Science and International Relations h-index 22
    Notable: “Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Rwanda” (2004) · 370 citations
    Spencer Piston, Associate Professor h-index 22
    Notable: “How Explicit Racial Prejudice Hurt Obama in the 2008 Election” (2010) · 317 citations
    Courses: Introduction to American Politics · Introduction to Public Policy · Introduction to Comparative Politics · Introduction to International Relations · Introduction to Political Theory · Presidential Leadership +14 more
    Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication15 faculty · 20 courses avg h-index 21.8
    Susan Kaplan Carlton, Master Lecturer h-index 69
    Notable: “Sensory Neurons Co-opt Classical Immune Signaling Pathways to Mediate Chronic Itch” (2017) · 1,056 citations
    T. Barton Carter, Professor h-index 3
    Christopher Beaudoin, Professor
    David Abel, Professor of the Practice
    Courses: Understanding Media · Professional Presentation · Principles and Practices of Public Relations · Introduction to Advertising · Persuasion Theory · Corporate Communication +14 more

    Faculty counts are directory headcounts; the named list may be a subset. h-index shown only for ORCID-backed or high-confidence OpenAlex matches. Partial — enrichment ongoing.

    Demographics

    Student Outcomes

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    About Boston University. Boston University in Boston, MA reports an overall acceptance rate of 12.8%, an early-round acceptance rate of 29.5%, an SAT middle 50% of 1430–1510, a class size of 3,268, and a yield of 31.0% based on the most recent Common Data Set filings. Major private research university in Boston. Returning to test-required for 2025-26 cycle. Strong in communications, business, and health sciences. Median SAT 1470.

    Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard.

    Boston University: key admissions facts

    Boston University's overall acceptance rate is 12.8% (the most recent Common Data Set). Boston University's early-round acceptance rate is 29.5% (the most recent Common Data Set). Boston University's SAT middle-50% range is 1430–1510 (the most recent Common Data Set). The average unweighted GPA of admitted students at Boston University is about 3.7 (the most recent Common Data Set). Boston University's yield rate (the share of admitted students who enroll) is 31.0% (the most recent Common Data Set). The average net price at Boston University for families earning under $75,000 is about $10,207 per year (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

    Sources: Common Data Set (commondataset.org) · Boston University on College Scorecard · NCES IPEDS · full source table

    How much does Boston University cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $9,500 per year in net price at Boston University, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $47,504 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $11,778 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Boston University: average annual net price by household income (most recent College Scorecard/IPEDS data)
    Household incomeAverage net price per year
    Under $30,000$9,500
    $30,001–$48,000$9,342
    $48,001–$75,000$11,778
    $75,001–$110,000$22,517
    Over $110,000$47,504
    Tuition (before aid)$66,670
    Room and board$19,020

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the acceptance rate at Boston University?

    Boston University's overall acceptance rate is 12.8%, based on the most recent Common Data Set. Its early-round (early decision or early action) acceptance rate is 29.5%.

    What SAT score and GPA do you need for Boston University?

    Admitted students at Boston University typically have an SAT middle-50% range of 1430–1510 and an average unweighted GPA of about 3.7, according to the most recent Common Data Set. These are the middle of the range, so scores above them strengthen an application.

    Is it hard to get into Boston University?

    Getting into Boston University is very difficult: it admits 12.8% of applicants. Your realistic odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to its middle-50% ranges and on your application round — you can estimate them with the free College Monte Carlo chances calculator.

    Does Boston University offer early decision or early action?

    Boston University offers early decision (binding) and early action (non-binding). Applying early can help: its early-round acceptance rate is 29.5%, versus 12.8% overall.

    How much does Boston University cost after financial aid?

    The average net price at Boston University — the real cost after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price — is about $10,207 per year for families earning under $75,000, based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data. Higher-income families generally pay more; see the full net-price-by-income breakdown.

    How much does Boston University cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $9,500 per year in net price at Boston University, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $47,504 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $11,778 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Not sure how to read these numbers? Start with our guide on how to estimate your admission chances. Boston University offers a binding early-decision round, so weigh the trade-offs in our early decision vs. regular decision guide before committing.