Boston University is infinitely more selective than it was a generation ago. In fact, last year’s freshman acceptance rate was lower than Harvard’s in the late ‘80s. After the shock of that statement wears off, we have some more encouraging news to share. BU remains a transfer-friendly institution and accepts thousands of applicants each year. The following blog will share the Boston University transfer acceptance rate as well other essential pieces of information like the Boston University transfer deadline, the requirements/checklist for applicants, the Boston University transfer decision date and much more.

Boston University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Below we present the most current available Boston University transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.

In the fall of 2021, there were 5,751 transfer applicants and 2,107 individuals were accepted. This means that the Boston University transfer acceptance rate is 37%. If we break this down by gender, the acceptance rates are as follows:

  • Male transfer applicants: 32%
  • Female transfer applicants: 40%

When trying to get the complete picture on how difficult it is to transfer into a given school, it is important to also look at historical data. Many schools have wild fluctuations in transfer acceptance rate from year to year. As you can see, the BU transfer acceptance rate has indeed experienced sizable swings in recent years, ranging from 37% to 54%.

Historical transfer rates are as follows:

Year Acceptance Rate
2020 54%
2019 43%
2018 43%
2017 52%

Boston University Transfer Deadline

The university offers both a fall and spring transfer option. The Boston University transfer deadline for fall applicants is March 15. The deadline for spring semester is November 1.

BU Transfer Requirements

The Boston University requirements are as follows:

  • Complete the Common App for Transfer
  • Final high school transcripts with proof of graduation
  • College transcripts
  • SAT or ACT scores (optional)
  • College Report
  • Course Syllabi
  • Letter of recommendation (optional, 1-2 professors)

Students who have the best chance to gain admission to BU have done the following:

  • Completed at least 12 or more credits of college coursework.
  • Earned exceptional grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university.
  • Have carefully explored which academic programs at BU have transfer availability.

Boston University Transfer GPA

The average GPA for enrolled BU transfers was 3.73 in the most recent cycle. The Boston University transfer GPA for accepted transfers was 3.76 on a 4.0 scale.

BU Transfer Essay

All transfer applicants must respond to one required essay prompt:

Boston University welcomes hundreds of transfer students to campus each year. We want to learn more about you and your reasons for transferring, in particular what you hope to accomplish at Boston University. (600 word maximum)

Boston University Transfer Decision Date?

The Boston University transfer decision date for fall applicants is between mid-April and mid-June. Spring transfer applicants are notified from mid-November to mid-December.

Final Thoughts – BU Transfer Acceptance Rate

In an average year, BU accepts over 2,000 total transfer applicants. Among those accepted, roughly 800 individuals go on to enroll each year. Well over 5,000 applied last year for fall semester and slightly under 1,000 applied for spring semester.

Students must apply to one of the bachelor’s degree granting colleges/schools that are part of BU. They are as follows:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Communication
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Fine Arts
  • College of General Studies
  • College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
  • Computing & Data Sciences
  • Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
  • Questrom School of Business
  • School of Hospitality Administration
  • Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

The fee to apply is $80.

Those who are accepted benefit from BU’s well-designed HUB transfer requirements that help students complete key graduation requirements. This is an institution with a large, welcoming transfer community.

If you are looking for information on how to apply to Boston University as a first year student, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:

Those searching for application info on other institutions may wish to visit our Dataverse pages:

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).