Boston University is tired of playing second fiddle to its Ivy League neighbor across the Charles River. Countless students vie for admission each year, and even those with perfect grades and test scores stand to be rejected. This wasn’t always the case, but the private research university’s reputation has shot up in recent years, contributing to heightened admissions competition. True, admissions officers at this college weigh other factors besides academics. That said, what kind of GPA does a student need when applying to Boston University? Let’s take a close gander at the data over the last three years.

Boston University Admissions Rate

First, just how difficult is it to get into Boston? For applicants to Boston’s Class of 2029, a mere 12.8% earned admission. The year prior, for the Class of 2028, 11.11% of the applicants were accepted. The competition is fierce, to be sure!

What is a Good GPA for Getting into Boston University?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of BU’s Class of 2028, as reported in BU’s 2024-25 Common Data Set:

GPA	Percentage of Boston University Class of 2028
4.0	41%
3.75-3.99	37%
3.5-3.74	22%
3.25-3.49	0%
3.0-3.24	0%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of Boston University Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of BU’s Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of Boston University Class of 2027
4.0	39%
3.75-3.99	39%
3.5-3.74	22%
3.25-3.49	0%
3.0-3.24	0%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%

GPA Percentage of Boston University Class of 2026

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of BU’s Class of 2026:

GPA	Percentage of Boston University Class of 2026
4.0	38%
3.75-3.99	37%
3.5-3.74	24%
3.25-3.49	1%
3.0-3.24	0%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%

Further Context on GPAs of Boston University Students

So, last year, 41% of students who enrolled in BU’s Class of 2028 boasted perfect GPAs, while 39% of students in BU’s Class of 2027, and 38% of students in BU’s Class of 2026 had perfect GPAs. And for all of these admissions cycles, most of the remaining students in each class boasted GPAs in the 3.75-3.99 range.

However, GPA is still not everything in BU’s holistic admissions process. It’s why we will not offer an answer when parents rattle off their child’s GPA during complimentary consultations with Ivy Coach and ask if they can get into Boston University. Without context, including the high school attended, the rigor of the student’s coursework, their extracurriculars, essays, letters of recommendation, and so much more, the answer would be meaningless.

Can I Get into Boston University with a Low GPA?

While it’s certainly possible to get into Boston with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it’s improbable. For the Class of 2028, none of the admitted students to Boston had GPAs below 3.5. It almost appears that they have an informal cutoff for students who graduated from high school with a 3.49 on their transcript.

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Boston University

If you’re interested in determining whether your child has a chance of getting into BU, we recommend setting up an Ivy Coach Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Boston University, but you’ll also receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.