Boston University’s Questrom School of Business

Boston University’s Class of 2026 is Bigger and Smarter than Ever

Boston University is seeing its largest applicant pool in school history.

A record-setting 80,797 students applied to the Class of 2026—a 6.7% increase in applications overall. Kelly Walter, BU’s associate vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions, says the class is not only the university’s largest, but strongest as well.

“How we’re going to select the top students, from a pool of applicants with an A- average, is the daunting task that lies ahead for me and my team,” Walter says.

43.7% of BU applicants chose to submit standardized test exam scores (BU started test-optional admissions in 2020) with an average SAT score of 1442 and average ACT score of 33. The average high school GPA this year was 3.81—an increase from last year’s 3.70.

JUMP IN UNDERREPRESENTED AND FIRST-GEN STUDENTS

23% of BU’s Class of 2026 applicants are first-generation college students. Additionally, applications from African American students increased 21%, from 4,143 to 5,017 for the Class of 2026. Hispanic students saw a 12% increase from 9,552 to 10,695.

1,764 high school students applied to BU this year through QuestBridge, a college access program that recruits applicants and forwards their applications to schools they’d like to attend. Selected students receive scholarship funds covering the full cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, and travel expenses. According to the university, 30 students were selected this year to attend BU. The students are in the top 3% of their high school class and have an average GPA of 3.9. Additionally, 7% are first-generation, and 70% are students from underrepresented groups.

“The fact that we’ve not only seen more students from underrepresented groups applying to BU, but also a record-number of applications from first-generation students,” Walter says, “speaks volumes about BU’s position in the marketplace as well as the strong appeal of our academic programs for students from such a wide variety of backgrounds.”

Sources: Boston University, Boston University