Boston University

Boston University is a private school founded in 1839. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,656 (Fall 2023) on a 140-acre campus located in the city. The university operates on a semester-based academic calendar. Boston University is ranked #41 in National Universities in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges. Its tuition and fees are $68,102.

Boston University is one of the largest independent nonprofit universities in the United States. The Boston University Terriers boast more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports. Boston University's field field hockey team has won numerous NCAA national championships. bU also has nearly 500 student clubs, ranging from ski racing to juggling associations. bU was one of the first universities to launch a study abroad program, and currently sponsors more than 90 international programs. Boston University requires freshmen to live on campus, and approximately 80% of undergraduates live on the main campus in Boston on the Charles River.

Boston University's top-ranked graduate schools include the School of Law, the School of Management, the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, and the School of Education. Boston University's School of Medicine was the first laboratory in the nation to combine cancer research with teaching.BU was also the first university to open all of its departments to women in 1872. Notable alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; actresses Julianne Moore and Geena Davis; television personality Bill O'Reilly; radio host Howard Stern; and Al Gore's ex-wife, Tipper Gore. Another unique fact: The BU Bridge is the only place in the U.S. where airplanes can fly over cars, trains and boats at the same time.