🏅 QS World Rank #94
Boston University (BU) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
A large private research university in the heart of a college town — QS World Rankings 2027 (joint #94)
Boston University (BU) is a large private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, with origins in 1839. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is joint 94th in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, costs, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most.
Boston University Overview
BU traces its origins to 1839 and today stretches along the Charles River in Boston. It is a private university with schools including Communication, Medicine, Questrom School of Business and Engineering.
BU’s class profile for the Class of 2029 (fall 2025 entrants) reports 76,776 applications and 21% international students. Greater Boston has a very large concentration of colleges and universities.
Boston University Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
Boston University is joint 94th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
BU is known for:
- Communication and journalism through the College of Communication
- Medicine and health sciences
- Business through the Questrom School of Business
- Biomedical engineering and engineering
- Research across sciences and humanities
- A city campus in Boston
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International first-year applicants follow BU’s undergraduate process. Confirm all steps on the official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Check BU Admissions for the current application platform and deadlines |
| Selection | Holistic review of grades, course rigour, essays and activities. Some schools, such as Communication, are especially selective |
| English | Applicants whose first language is not English need to show English proficiency. Check BU for accepted tests |
| Merit scholarship | The Presidential Scholarship is considered when you apply by 1 December, per BU |
| Visa | F-1 student visa after admission |
Boston University Acceptance Rate
BU does not report one admit rate on its class-profile page. That page lists 76,776 applicants for fall 2025 and 3,450 enrolled students. The old “about 11%” figure was not tied to a source, so it was removed.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on Boston University’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
BU’s tuition and aid page lists these figures, but does not label the academic year on that page:
- Tuition: US$73,024
- Fees: US$1,570
- Housing: US$13,170 and food: US$7,570
- Other expenses: US$3,085
- Total cost of attendance: US$98,419
Check BU’s cost-of-attendance page to confirm the year. The old figure of about US$63,000 in tuition was out of date.
Source: BU tuition and aid. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Presidential Scholarship: BU lists an annual value of half tuition for students entering in fall 2026. U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international students can be considered. It is for first-year students with exceptional academic achievement and leadership, and there is no separate application beyond your admission application by 1 December.
- Need-based aid: BU says need-based aid “is not currently available to international students”. International applicants may be eligible for select merit scholarships only.
- Other funding: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027. We could not confirm a separate Trustee Scholarship on BU’s pages, so it is not listed.
Source: BU first-year merit scholarships. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Boston University for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants apply as international students:
- Funding: plan for the full cost above, because need-based aid is not available to international students
- English: prepare IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Deadline: the Presidential Scholarship is tied to a 1 December application deadline
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required
Campus & Student Life
- The campus runs along the Charles River in central Boston
- Boston is a major student city with many universities nearby
- The city has strong health, biotech, finance and education sectors
- Housing is expensive, so plan early
Research & Career Opportunities
- BU is research-intensive, with strong communication, medicine and business programmes
- Boston has large health, biotech, technology and finance sectors
- Graduates work across the U.S. and abroad
- BU does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Martin Luther King Jr. earned his doctorate at BU in 1955
- Howard Stern, broadcaster, graduated from BU’s College of Communication
- Geena Davis, actor, attended BU
Contact & Location
Boston University
One Silber Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
Official website: bu.edu
International admissions: intadmis@bu.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston University is joint 94th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
BU’s College of Communication is widely regarded for journalism and communication. This page does not quote a subject rank.
No. BU says need-based aid is not currently available to international students.
BU is best known for communication and journalism, medicine, business and engineering.
For fall 2026 entry, BU lists it as half tuition a year, open to U.S. and international first-year applicants with exceptional achievement and leadership, with no separate application beyond the 1 December admission deadline.
BU lists tuition of US$73,024 and a total cost of attendance of US$98,419, though the page does not label the academic year.
BU’s class profile says 21% of the Class of 2029 are international.
BU reports 76,776 applications for the Class of 2029.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international students and should plan for the full cost.
Check Boston University’s official pages at bu.edu/admissions. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare Boston University With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Boston University’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.