Boston University Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

For the Class of 2029, Boston University (BU) received 76,779 applications and admitted roughly 9,827 students, putting the acceptance rate at 12.8%.

Early Decision (ED) results for the Class of 2030 were released in December 2025 and February 2026, but a full admissions breakdown is not yet available. Regular Decision (RD) results are expected in late March 2026, with more detailed admissions statistics typically appearing later in Boston University’s Common Data Set.

In this blog, we’ll cover Boston University’s latest overall, ED, RD, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates, along with how they’ve changed over time.

• Boston University Acceptance Rates
• Boston University Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Boston University Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Boston University Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Boston University Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Boston University Acceptance Rates

Boston University had an overall acceptance rate of 12.8% for the Class of 2029, up slightly from 11.11% for the Class of 2028. Applications dipped from 78,769 to 76,779, while admits increased from 8,749 to roughly 9,827, a combination that pushed the rate modestly higher.

Even so, at 12.8%, BU remains far more selective than it was a decade ago. Here’s how the numbers have changed:

Note: Class of 2029 data is sourced from Boston University’s official admissions announcements. All other data is from the Common Data Set.

Much of the long-term decline in Boston University’s acceptance rate reflects rising application volume. From the Class of 2021 to the Class of 2029, applications grew by nearly 16,000 while admitted students fell from over 15,000 to under 10,000. Applications first surpassed 75,000 with the Class of 2025, when BU adopted a test-optional policy, and have remained above that level as the university continues test-optional admissions.

The trend hasn’t been perfectly linear. Acceptance rates fell to their lowest level on record with the Class of 2027 (10.85%), then remained similarly low for the Class of 2028 (11.11%), before ticking back up to 12.8% for the Class of 2029 as applications declined slightly and admits increased. Even with this recent uptick, the overall trajectory over the past decade still points toward greater selectivity.

Boston University Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Boston University received 6,909 ED applications for the Class of 2029, but has not released the exact number of ED admits. According to the Class Profile, 59% of enrolled students came in through ED, but a full statistical breakdown is not yet available. Complete data will likely be published once the Common Data Set is released.

The most recent complete ED data is from the Class of 2028, when BU received 6,854 ED applications and admitted 1,936 students, for an ED acceptance rate of 28.25%. This was slightly higher than the 26.09% recorded for the Class of 2027.

Boston University Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Boston University’s ED acceptance rate has remained relatively stable over the years and has generally been higher than its overall acceptance rate. Here’s how the numbers break down:

Note: All ED data has been compiled from Boston University’s Common Data Set.

BU’s ED acceptance rate has ranged from about 25% to 33% over the past several years, consistently higher than the overall rate but not dramatically so. For the Class of 2028, the ED rate of 28.25% was more than double the overall acceptance rate of 11.11%, suggesting that applying ED does offer a meaningful advantage at BU.

It’s also worth noting that ED applications at BU have grown steadily, rising from 4,159 for the Class of 2021 to 6,909 for the Class of 2029. Moreover, the latest ED acceptance rate of 28.25% is much higher than the RD rate of 9.47%, which we’ll examine next.

Boston University Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

As with ED, we only know that Boston University received 69,867 RD applications for the Class of 2029. The university also shared in its Class Profile that 41% of enrolled students applied through RD, but that’s the only detail available, so we can’t calculate the exact RD acceptance rate. The full breakdown will likely become available once the Common Data Set is published.

The most recent complete RD data is from the Class of 2028, when BU received 71,915 RD applications and admitted 6,813 students, resulting in an RD acceptance rate of 9.47%, a very slight increase from 9.43% for the Class of 2027.

Boston University Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

BU’s RD acceptance rate has fallen sharply over the past decade, dropping from the mid-20% range to single digits. Here’s the full breakdown:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Boston University’s Common Data Set.

BU’s RD acceptance rate has dropped from 24.78% for the Class of 2021 to 9.47% for the Class of 2028. The steepest drop came between the Class of 2025 and Class of 2027, when the rate fell from 17.55% to 9.43% as applications surged and BU tightened its admitted class. Since then, the RD rate has stabilized in the 9–10% range, which remains highly competitive.

Boston University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Boston University’s most recent transfer acceptance rate of 34.60% is from Fall 2024. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Boston University’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

At 34.60%, BU’s Fall 2024 transfer acceptance rate is significantly higher than its overall freshman acceptance rate of 11.11% for the same admissions cycle, making transfer admission considerably less competitive than applying as a first-year student.

Boston University Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data is from the Class of 2028, with a waitlist acceptance rate of just 0.20%. Here’s how it breaks down:

Note: All data has been compiled from Boston University’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Out of 8,996 students who confirmed their spots on the waitlist, BU admitted just 18, resulting in an extremely low 0.20% waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. That’s one of the lowest waitlist admission rates among major universities and far lower than BU’s already competitive overall freshman acceptance rate of 11.11% for that class.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Boston University’s current acceptance rate?

Boston University’s acceptance rate is 12.8% for the Class of 2029. The university received 76,779 applications and admitted 9,827 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Boston University through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Statistically, applying ED offers an advantage. The most recent complete data is from the Class of 2028, when BU’s ED acceptance rate was 28.25%, compared to an RD acceptance rate of just 9.47%.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Boston University?

It’s still competitive, but less so than freshman admissions. BU’s Fall 2024 transfer acceptance rate was 34.60%, compared to the overall freshman rate of 12.8%.

4. What are my chances of getting off Boston University’s waitlist?

Extremely low. For the Class of 2028, BU admitted just 18 students from the waitlist out of 8,996 who confirmed their spots, resulting in a 0.20% waitlist acceptance rate.

5. Why is Boston University’s acceptance rate so low?

Boston University’s acceptance rate reflects the gap between rising application numbers and a shrinking admit pool. Applications increased from 60,825 for the Class of 2021 to 76,779 for the Class of 2029, while the number of admitted students fell from 15,273 to about 9,827, pushing the acceptance rate into the low teens.

Takeaways

• BU’s acceptance rate fell from 25.11% for the Class of 2021 to a low of 10.85% for the Class of 2027, before rising slightly to 12.80% for the Class of 2029 as applications dipped and the university admitted more students.
• Applying ED offers a meaningful advantage at BU. For the Class of 2028, the ED acceptance rate was 28.25%, compared to an RD rate of 9.47%.
• Transfer admissions are far more accessible than freshman admissions. For Fall 2024, BU’s transfer acceptance rate was 34.60%, compared to a freshman acceptance rate of 11.11% for the same admissions cycle.
• BU’s waitlist offers very limited chances of admission. For the Class of 2028, only 18 students were admitted off the waitlist out of 8,996 who confirmed their spots, resulting in a 0.20% waitlist acceptance rate.
• With competition increasing each year, having the right guidance can make a meaningful difference. An admissions expert can help you build a stronger application, understand what BU is looking for, and present your achievements effectively.