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About the Office of Enrollment Planning and Retention Common Data Set Contact the Office of Enrollment Planning and Retention
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Common Data Set

Updated: January 2008

A. General Information
B. Enrollment and Persistence
C. First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission
D. Transfer Admission
E. Academic Offerings and Policies
F. Student Life
G. Annual Expenses
H. Financial Aid
I. Instructional Faculty
J. Degrees Conferred

A. General Information
A1. Address Information
Name of College or University
Boston University
Mailing Address
One Sherborn St.
Boston, MA 02215

Street Address, (if different)
Not Applicable
Main Phone
(617) 353-2000
WWW Home Page Address
www.bu.edu
Admissions Phone Number
(617) 353-2300
Admissions Toll-Free Number
None
Admissions Office Mailing Address
121 Bay State Road
Boston, MA 02215

Admissions Fax Number
(617) 353-9695
Admissions E-mail Address
admissions@bu.edu
International Admissions:
intadmis@bu.edu
Separate URL application site?
Yes: https://app.commonapp.org


A2.Source of institutional control
  Public -  Private (nonprofit)   Proprietary


A3. Classify your undergraduate institution
-  Coeducational college    Menīs college   Womenīs college


A4. Academic year calendar
-  Semester   4-1-4   Quarter   Continuous
  Trimester   Differs by program   Other


A5. Degrees offered by your institution
  Certificate   Postbachelorīs certificate
  Diploma -  Masterīs
  Associate -  Post-masterīs certificate
  Transfer -  Doctoral
  Terminal -  First professional
-  Bachelorīs   First professional certificate


B. Enrollment and Persistence
B1. Institutional Enrollment -- Men and Women
 
Full-Time
Part-Time
 
Men
Women
Men
Women
Undergraduates
  Degree-Seeking
    First-Time Freshmen
1,627 2,536 0
0
    Other First-Year
3 3 0
0
    All Other
4,824 7,276 211 193
 Total Degree-Seeking
6,454 9,815 211 193
  All Other Enrolled in Credit Courses
407 530 527 596
 Total Undergraduates
6,861 10,345 738 789
First-Professional
  First-Time
275 302 1 0
  All Other
738 762 9 15
 Total First-Professional
1,013 1,064 10 15
Graduate
  Degree-Seeking First-Time
972 1,444 524 591
  All Other Degree-Seeking
1,856 2,140 1,457 1,566
  All Other Enrolled in Credit Courses
47 47 235 339
Total Graduate 2,875 3,631 2,216 2,496
Total Undergraduate Enrollment (IPEDS) 18,733     
Total Graduate and Professional Enrollment (IPEDS) 13,320    
Grand Total All Students 32,053     


B2. Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category
 
All
First-Year
Degree-Seeking

All
Undergraduate
Degree-Seeking

All
Undergraduate

Non-Resident Aliens
286 1,059 1,615
Black, Non-Hispanic
101 463 525
American Indian or Alaskan Native
8 46 48
Asian or Pacific Islander 641 2,207 2,289
Hispanic
299 1,119 1,162
White, Non-Hispanic
2,376 9,371 9,825
Race/Ethnicity Unknown
452 2,408 3,269
Total
4,163 16,673 18,733


Persistence
B3. Number of degrees awarded by your institution from July 1 to June 30
Certificate/Diploma
0
Associate
0
Bachelorīs
3,883
Postbachelorīs Certificate
7

 
Masterīs 3,313
Post-Masterīs 56
Doctoral 540
First Professional 695
First Professional Certificate 24


Graduation Rates for Bachelorīs or Equivalent Programs
B4. Initial 2001 cohort of first-time, full-time bachelorīs (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students:
3,601
 

B5. Of the initial 2001 cohort, how many did not persist and did not graduate for the following reasons: deceased, permanently disabled, armed forces, foreign aid service of the federal government, or official church missions?
0
 

B6. Final 2001 cohort, after adjusting for allowable exclusions:
3,601
 

B7. Of the initial 2001 cohort, how many completed the program in four years or less (by August 31, 2005)?
2,725
 

B8. Of the initial 2001 cohort, how many completed the program in more than four years but in five years or less (after August 31, 2005 and by August 31, 2006)?
191
 

B9. Of the initial 2001 cohort, how many completed the program in more than five years but in six years or less (after August 31, 2006 and by August 31, 2007)?
23
 

B10. Total graduating within six years (sum of questions B7, B8, and B9):
2,939
 

B11. Six-year graduation rate for 2001 cohort (question B10 divided by question B6):
82%
 

Graduation Rates for Two-Year Institutions
B12-21. Questions for Two-Year Institutions
Not Applicable
 

Retention Rates
B22. For the cohort of all full-time, first-time bachelorīs (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered your institution as freshmen in fall 2006 (or the preceding summer term), what percentage was enrolled at your institution as of the date your institution calculates its official enrollment in fall 2007?
91%


C. First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission
Applications


C1. First-time, first-year (freshman) students:
Freshman
Men
Women
Applicants
13,865 20,065
Offered admission
7,883 12,005
Full-time enrolled
1,627 2,536
Part-time enrolled
0 0


C2. Freshman wait-listed students (students who met admission requirements but whose final admission was contingent on space availability):
Do you have a policy of placing students on a wait-list?
Yes      No
Total freshman applicants placed on wait-list
3,590
Total freshman applicants accepting place on wait-list
1,944
Total freshman applicants accepted from wait-list
1,146
Is wait-list ranked?
Yes      No
Release wait-list information to school counselors?
Yes      No


Admission Requirements
C3. High school completion requirement
yes  High school diploma is required and GED accepted; home-schooled students should contact the
      Office of Admissions

  High school diploma is required and GED not accepted
  High school diploma or equivalent is not required
 

C4. Does your institution require or recommend a general college preparatory program for degree-seeking students?
-  Required
  Recommended
  Neither required nor recommended


C5. Distribution of high school units required and/or recommended.
 
Units Required
Units Recommended
English
 4.0
 4.0
Mathematics
 3.0
(through pre-calculus)
 3.0 - 4.0
(calculus recommended)
Science (with Labs)
 3.0
 3.0 - 4.0
Foreign Language
 2.0
 2.0 - 4.0
History/Social Studies
 3.0
 3.0 - 4.0
Academic Electives
 0.0
 0.0
Other
 0.0
 0.0
Total Units
 15.0
 20.0


Basis for Selection
C6. Do you have an open admissions policy, under which virtually all secondary school graduates or students with GED equivalency diplomas are admitted without regard to academic record, test scores, or other qualifications?
Yes      No
 

C7. Relative importance of each of the following academic non academic factors in your first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admissions decisions.
Factor
Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Academic
Rigor of secondary school record
-



Class rank

-


Academic GPA

-


Recommendations

-


Standardized test scores

-


Essay

-


Non-Academic
Interview

-
*1
-

Extracurricular activities


-

Talent/ability
-
*2


 
-
*2

*1 Important for 7-year Accel. Medical and Dental program finalists and Boston and Medeiros Scholarship program nominees.
*2 Very important for College of Fine Arts applicants, otherwise not considered.

Character/personal qualities


-

First generation


-

Alumni/ae relation


-

Geographical residence


-

State residency


-

Religious affiliation/
commitment




-
Racial/Ethnic status



-
Volunteer work


-

Work experience


-

Level of Applicant's Interest


-



SAT and ACT Policies 
C8. Entrance exams
A. Does your institution make use of SAT I, ACT, or SAT II Subject Test scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants?
Yes No
Admissions
Required
Recommended
Required
for Some

Considered
If Submitted

Not
Used

SAT Reasoning or ACT with Writing
(no preference)

-




SAT Subject Tests

  -* 

  -* 




ACT with Writing Component
-
-



* 2 SAT subject tests required (recommended for College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies and the Science and Engineering Program in Metropolitan College)

B. If your institution will make use of the ACT in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants for Fall 2008, please indicate which ONE of the following applies:
 ACT with Writing component required.
 ACT with Writing component recommended.
 ACT with or without Writing component accepted.

C. Please indicate how your insitution will use the SAT or ACT writing component:
 For admission
 No college policy as of now
 For placement
 As a validity check on the application essay
 For advising
 In place of an application essay

D. In addition, does your institution use applicants' test scores for academic advising?
Yes      No

E. Latest date by which SAT I or ACT scores must be received for fall-term admission:
January 1
    Latest date by which SAT II Subject Test scores must be received for fall-term admission:
January 1

F. Test Policy
School or College
Test
Requirements
*
   Test
   Recommendations

Early
Decision

Transfer
Admission

Early
Admission

January
Admission

College of Arts & Sciences

SAT or ACT (with Writing)

Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X


X

X


X

X


X

X


X

Note: There is no transfer admission as an undeclared major.
College of Fine Arts - School of Music
SAT or ACT (with Writing)
   Two SAT Subject Tests
X X X X
Candidates are required to audition for admission.
Check College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for audition schedules.
Candidates for the Theory and Composition program must audition and present a portfolio.

College of Fine Arts - School of Theatre Arts
SAT or ACT (with Writing)    Two SAT Subject Tests X X X
Candidates for the Acting and Theatre Studies Programs must audition for admission. Candidates for the Design, Production and Stage Management Programs must present a portfolio in an interview with the faculty. Check the College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for audition and portfolio preparation schedules.
College of Fine Arts - School of Visual Arts
SAT or ACT (with Writing)    Two SAT Subject Tests X
Candidates are required to submit a portfolio.
Check College of Fine Arts website at www.bu.edu/cfa for instructions.
There is no transfer admission as an undeclared major.

College of Communication

SAT or ACT (with Writing)

Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X


X

X


X

X


X

X


X

Note: There is no transfer admission as an undeclared major.
School of Education

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X

 

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

 
College of Engineering

SAT or ACT (with Writing)

Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X


X

X


X

X


X

X


X

Note: There is no transfer admission as an undeclared major.
School of Hospitality Administration

SAT or ACT (with Writing)

Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X


X

X


X

X


X

X


X

School of Management

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


Any two SAT Subject Tests

 

X

 

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

   X**

 

X

**There is no January, freshman admission to the School of Management
Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


Two SAT Subject Tests

 

X

 

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

X

 

X

Note:There is no transfer admission as undeclared.
Seven-Year Accelerated Liberal Arts/Medical Education Combined Degree Program

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


SAT Subject Test: Chemistry


SAT Subject Test: Mathematics (level 2)

   SAT Subject Test: Foreign Language
 
 
 
 
Please note that no substitute for the required tests will be accepted.
Application due date for accelerated programs is December 1.
For all accelerated programs, finalists will be contacted and are required to interview in Boston.

Seven-Year Accelerated Liberal Arts/Dental Education Combined Degree Program

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


SAT Subject Test: Chemistry


SAT Subject Test: Mathematics (level 2)

   SAT Subject Test: Foreign Language
 
 
 
 
Please note that no substitute for the required tests will be accepted.
Application due date for accelerated programs is December 1.
For all accelerated programs, finalists will be contacted and are required to interview in Boston.

New Jersey Liberal Arts Seven-Year Medical Combined Degree Program

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


SAT Subject Test: Chemistry


SAT Subject Test: Mathematics (level 2)

   SAT Subject Test: Foreign Language
 
 
 
 
Please note that no substitute for the required tests will be accepted.
Application due date for accelerated programs is December 1.
For all accelerated programs, finalists will be contacted and are required to interview in Boston.

College of
General Studies

SAT or ACT (with Writing)

(only September admission available)

   Two SAT Subject Tests
X      
Early Decision is available
Metropolitan College Science and Engineering Program

SAT or ACT (with Writing)


(only September admission available)

   Two SAT Subject Test        
Students submitting only SAT scores will be required to submit the scores of at least two SAT II subject tests of their choice. Requirements for the TOEFL tests are available on our Admissions website.
 
*Note: 

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of any student for whom English is not the native or first language. Minimum iBT TOEFL scores for the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, College of Fine Arts, School of Hospitality Administration, Sargent College, and the Science and Engineering Program are:

Writting:22, Speaking: 23, Reading: 21, Listening:18

Minimum iBT TOEFL scores for the College of Communications, College of General Studies, and the School of Management are:

Writing: 22, Speaking: 23, Reading: 25, Listening: 21


G. Please indicate which tests your insitution uses for placement:
 
Required
Recommended
Required
for Some

Considered
If Submitted

Not
Used

SAT
-
ACT with writing
-
SAT Subject Tests
-
AP
CLEP
Institutional Exam


Freshman Profile
C9. Percent and number of first-time, first-year (freshman) students enrolled in Fall 2007 who submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.
Scores
Percent Submitting
Number
SAT I
93%
3,853
 
 
ACT
32% 1,146
 
 
 
 
Test
Middle 50 Percentile
SAT Critical Reading
580-680
SAT Math
590-690
SAT Writing
590-670
Essay
8-10
ACT Composite
25-30
ACT English
26-30
ACT Math
25-29
ACT Writing
25-30


Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students with scores in each range
SAT I
Distribution

SAT
Critical Reading

SAT
Math

SAT
Writing
ACT
Distribution

ACT
Composite

ACT
English

ACT
Math

700-800
17% 22%
17% 30-36
26% 36%
25%
600-699
50% 53% 54% 24-29
67%
53% 62%
500-599
30% 24% 27% 18-23
 7% 11% 13%
400-499
 3%
 1%
 2% 12-17
 0%
 0%  0%
300-399
 0%
 0%
 0% 6-11
 0%
 0%
 0%
200-299
 0%
 0%
 0% below 6
 0%
 0%
 0%


C10. Percent of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school class rank within each of the following ranges:
Freshman Class Rank Statistics
Top 10% Top 25% Top 50% Bottom 50% Bottom 25%
Percent in High School Graduating Class
51% 85% 100%  0%
 0%
Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank:
46%


C11. Percent of all enrolled, degree-seeking first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale):
High School GPA Distribution
3.75 and Higher
24%
3.50-3.74
26%
3.25-3.49
19%
3.00-3.24
22%
2.50-2.99
 9%
2.00-2.49
 0%
1.00-1.99
 0%
Below 1.0
 0%


C12. Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted GPA:
Average High School GPA:
3.45
Percent of Total Freshman Submitting High School GPA:
99.8%


Admissions Policies
C13. Application fee
Application fee? Yes No
Amount of application fee: $75 - all forms (paper & electronic)
Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?*
Yes No
*Students should speak with high school guidance counselors to request the submission of a fee waiver.


C14. Application closing date
Does your institution have an application closing date?

Yes
     No

January 1 for fall admissions
(December 1 for Accelerated Medical and Dental Programs, Trustee Scholar, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar, Alexander Graham Bell Scholar, Boston High School, and Cardinal Medeiros Scholar programs)


C15. Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
Yes      No    In most programs
 

C16. Notification to applicants of admission decision sent
Late-March through mid-April.
 

C17. Reply policy for admitted applicants

Must reply by May 1.
Deadline for housing deposit: Enrollment deposit due May 1 (no separate housing deposit)

Amount of housing deposit: Enrollment deposit: $650 (no separate housing deposit)  
Refundable if student does not enroll: No
C18. Deferred admission:
Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?
Yes      No
Deferred admission is allowed with a maximum
postponement of 1 Year (freshmen only).


C19. Early admission of high school students:
Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time (freshman) students one year or more before high school graduation?
Yes
No