Boston University : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
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Boston University

Location

Charles River Campus, Boston United States

Ranking

# 108QS World University Rankings

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146Undergraduate programs

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293Postgraduate programs

Scholarship

AvailableScholarship

About Boston University

Boston University is a major global research institution, creating breakthroughs in everything from African studies to zebrafish genetics. With over 34,000 part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 10,000 faculty and staff spread across 17 schools and colleges, BU’s three city campuses are always humming. Established in 1869 by three Methodist businessmen, Boston University has since evolved into the largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private university in the country. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. Our graduates are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.

BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.BU is also a global university, with thousands of international scholars, faculty, and students on campus at any given time. By the same token, thousands of Terriers and faculty members get their passports stamped each year for study, research, and internship opportunities on all seven continents.
With an alumni base of more than 300,000 graduates, Boston University has produced many notable alums including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The University counts 11 current or former governors of US states, 7 United States senators, and 32 members of the United States House of Representatives among its alumni. And a slew of Hollywood stars, including Geena Davis, Julianne Moore, Faye Dunaway, and Jason Alexander, call BU their alma mater, as do a number of other celebrated artists and thinkers.
BU is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internship, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

About Boston University

Boston University is a major global research institution, creating breakthroughs in everything from African studies to zebrafish genetics. With over 34,000 part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 10,000 faculty and staff spread across 17 schools and colleges, BU’s three city campuses are always humming. Established in 1869 by three Methodist businessmen, Boston University has since evolved into the largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private university in the country. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. Our graduates are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.

BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.BU is also a global university, with thousands of international scholars, faculty, and students on campus at any given time. By the same token, thousands of Terriers and faculty members get their passports stamped each year for study, research, and internship opportunities on all seven continents.
With an alumni base of more than 300,000 graduates, Boston University has produced many notable alums including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The University counts 11 current or former governors of US states, 7 United States senators, and 32 members of the United States House of Representatives among its alumni. And a slew of Hollywood stars, including Geena Davis, Julianne Moore, Faye Dunaway, and Jason Alexander, call BU their alma mater, as do a number of other celebrated artists and thinkers.
BU is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internship, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

Available programs

One of the largest private universities in the country, Boston University educates approximately 16,000 undergraduate students each year. Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach in 250 programs of study at 17 schools and colleges.

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and the average class size is 27.
BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. It’s not unusual to find undergraduates in the cutting-edge labs and work spaces of prominent researchers tackling life-changing challenges.

Recognized around the world, the University fields applications for admission from students representing over 150 countries. By the same token, thousands of Terriers get their passports stamped every year for study, research, and internships on all seven continents. Once they graduate, BU students are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.
BU is implementing a University-wide general education curriculum called the BU Hub, which ensures every graduate will possess the essential knowledge, skills, and habits of mind needed to think deeply, generate new ideas, and put them into action, particularly within the context of a hyper-fast, globally connected world.

On campus, daily life is a swirl of languages, faces, and religions, with 450+ student clubs, countless shows and lectures, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a slew of pubs and restaurants, and 22 varsity athletic teams, including the thrills and spills of Terrier hockey.

The University is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internships, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

BA in Archaeology

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BA in History

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BA in Latin

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BA in Music

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B.A. in Biology

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BA in Psychology

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BS in Biology

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BA in English

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BA in Religion

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BA in Sociology

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BS in Economics

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The largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private educational institution in the country, Boston University counts some 15,000 graduate students among its student body.

Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach at 17 schools and colleges and when not at the front of the classroom, they can be found at BU’s 125+ research centers and institutes and 2,326 laboratories spread across three city campuses. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows.
BU is a major, global research institution and a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.

U.S. News & World Report for 2019 ranked numerous BU graduate programs among the country’s top 50: Sargent College’s occupational therapy program (#1), School of Public Health’s program (#10), Business (#42), Education (#34), Law (#22), Engineering (#34), Biomedical Engineering (#12), Medical Research (#29), Medical Primary Care (#26), Social Work (#10), as well as graduate programs in Computer Science, Math, Physics, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology.

The University is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internships, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

JD/MA in English

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JD/MA in History

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MA in Archaeology

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MA in Composition

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MA in History

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MA in Philosophy

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MA in Pathology

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Ph.D. in English

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PhD in History

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PhD in Philosophy

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University information

Bachelor

1360+
3+
7+
90+

Master

620+
301+
3+
7+
90+
27,938
63%
37%
9,407
50%
50%
2,707
81%
19%

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

how_to

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

list

A list of available scholarships around the world

checklist

A scholarship application checklist

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Rankings & ratings

Boston University is one of the top private universities in Boston, United States. It is ranked #108 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

QS World University Rankings

  • 2012
    #64
  • 2014
    #=79
  • 2015
    #78
  • 2016
    #91
  • 2017
    #89
  • 2018
    #81
  • 2019
    #=93
  • 2020
    #98
  • 2021
    #110
  • 2022
    #=112
  • 2023
    #108
  • 2024
    #=93
  • 2025
    #108

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Boston University basic Private Very High 10 yes 9407 L 63