Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Boston University #176 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $83,615, placing Boston University in the 87.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Boston University sits in the 9.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $15,901 less than similar students at comparable institutions. --- Students at Boston University earn meaningfully more than similar students at other institutions, a result that places Boston University among the stronger performers for earnings beyond expectations within its peer group. Median 4-year earnings and the institution's composite ranking together reflect a broad program portfolio — anchored by social sciences and professional fields — that translates into durable post-graduation outcomes across a wide range of career paths.
Azimuth ranks Boston University #176 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Boston, MA, Boston University enrolls roughly 18,248 undergraduates. Retention is 94.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 88.7%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to the broader nonprofit four-year landscape. Where Boston University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Boston University #391 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $83,615, and graduates earn about $15,901 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Boston University in the 9.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's degree output leans toward Social Sciences, but high-return programs such as Business Administration and Computer Science contribute meaningfully to the overall earnings profile. The composite is shaped by the interplay of the remaining pillars. Boston University sits in the 90.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions and in the 29.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits lower — Boston University admits about 11.1% of applicants, a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (19.1% Pell, 16.9% first-generation). That narrower access footprint, reflected in the 91.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, is the primary factor pulling the composite below the return-on-investment ranking alone.
Boston University's published cost of attendance is $86,285, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,500 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,778, and higher-income families pay approximately $47,504. Azimuth ranks Boston University #1006 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial — a dynamic worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the net price illusion. Boston University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, with need-based aid available through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university's aid structure includes grants, scholarships, and work-study options, though the depth of need-based coverage varies by family circumstance. Families weighing the full cost picture should account for how institutional grant aid interacts with federal Pell eligibility, particularly for lower-income households where the net price figures above reflect the most favorable aid conditions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Boston University's median four-year earnings of $83,615, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Boston University is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, business, and research-oriented fields who want a private research university experience in Boston, MA — a city with deep employer networks across finance, healthcare, technology, and the life sciences. The earnings case is solid. Graduates earn in the 87.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Boston University sits in the 9.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $15,901 less than similar students at comparable institutions. The access picture is more selective. 19.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.9% are first-generation students — lower shares than at many large public institutions — and the admission rate of 11.1% reflects a competitive applicant pool. For admitted students who qualify for need-based aid, the net price for higher-income families runs around $47,504, and low-income graduates sit in the 98.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the competitive admit rate means the application process is selective, and the program mix is oriented toward Social Sciences and research-intensive fields rather than applied-professional tracks. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can manage the net price — or qualify for need-based aid — will find Boston University a strong option for long-term earnings and career mobility in a major metropolitan labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Boston University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Boston University's published cost of attendance is $86,285, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,500 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,778, and higher-income families pay approximately $47,504.
Azimuth ranks Boston University #1006 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial — a dynamic worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/). Boston University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, with need-based aid available through the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The university's aid structure includes grants, scholarships, and work-study options, though the depth of need-based coverage varies by family circumstance. Families weighing the full cost picture should account for how institutional grant aid interacts with federal Pell eligibility, particularly for lower-income households where the net price figures above reflect the most favorable aid conditions.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Boston University's median four-year earnings of $83,615, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Boston University earn median earnings of $83,615 four years after enrollment, placing Boston University in the 87.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $15,901 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Boston University in the 9.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Boston University #391 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The degree mix at Boston University is anchored by Social Sciences, which accounts for 16% of graduates, followed by Business at 15% and Engineering at 9%. Business Administration combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #14 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 678 graduates earning median earnings of $108,412. The Economics program graduates 305 students with median earnings of $96,723, and Azimuth ranks the program #75 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the highest-earning fields, Azimuth ranks Computer Science #72 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $136,667 four years after enrollment. Psychology, General also stands out, with Azimuth ranking it #40 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates earning median earnings of $63,838.
Computer Science
294 graduates
Computer Engineering
122 graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
60 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
678 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
126 graduates
Boston University's program mix leans heavily toward Social Sciences, which accounts for 16% of degree output, followed by Business at 15% and Engineering at 9%. That social-sciences concentration — anchored by programs in economics, political science, and psychology — gives the institution a program-mix signature closer to research-intensive liberal arts peers than to engineering-heavy universities.
Business Administration is the program that combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it the single biggest contributor to the institution's overall financial outcomes. Across 56 programs serving roughly 4,976 students annually, 36 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The strongest earnings come from quantitative and applied fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #72 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 294 graduates earning $136,667.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #14 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $108,412, and Azimuth ranks Economics #75 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $96,723. Among the largest programs by cohort, Business Administration program graduates 678 students and delivers median earnings of $108,412, while The Economics program graduates 305 students with median earnings of $96,723 — [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) provides the full methodology behind these rankings.
Several of Boston University's largest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — notably Computer Science and Psychology, General — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical, law, or doctoral programs. Computer Science and Business Administration, by contrast, are high-mobility programs where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how these fields align with broader wage trends and employer demand. ```
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stonehill College Higher acceptance rate (61.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 20 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 73% | $77,745 | Compare |
Assumption University Higher acceptance rate (75.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 87% | $74,895 | Compare |
Merrimack College Higher acceptance rate (62.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 22 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 74% | $75,584 | Compare |
Drexel University Higher acceptance rate (66.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 78% | $84,648 | Compare |
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (75.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeastern University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4384 ranked) | MA | 5% | $92,538 | #4384 | Compare |
George Washington University Similar quality tier (#5985 ranked) | DC | 47% | $90,873 | #5985 | Compare |
Villanova University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#7010 ranked) | PA | 27% | $100,423 | #7010 | Compare |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Similar quality tier (#7536 ranked) | FL | 58% | $84,131 | #7536 | Compare |
Boston College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4288 ranked) | MA | 16% | $103,937 | #4288 | Compare |
