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Boston University, or BU, is a private institution that was founded in 1839 in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 35,000 students who attend classes on a campus that runs along Commonwealth Avenue and the Boston metro rail or “The T,” which provides excellent transportation for students, faculty, and visitors. BU is on a semester-based academic calendar, and the university provides ample merit and need-based scholarships.
BU is made up of 15 colleges including the competitive Questrom School of Business and the Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Students get to choose from a variety of housing options both on and off-campus, with a majority of undergraduates staying in the iconic Warren Towers and the campus brownstones.
BU offers small, intimate classes and boasts a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. BU provides current students with over 70 study abroad options through their many globally-partnered institutions. Beyond academics, BU students can explore historic Boston and stop by Faneuil Hall, picnic in the Boston Common, or visit local rivals Harvard or Boston College. Notable alumni include Bill O’Reilly, actress Julianne Moore, and radio host Howard Stern.
* These statistics utilize the most recently released data from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System)
Sources for school statistics and data include U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Data may vary depending on school and academic year.
Source data obtained from U.S. Department of Education's Office of Post-secondary Education (OPE)
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Based on 13 ReviewsBoston University boasts a rich history of diversity. It was the first university to open all divisions to female students in 1872, and the campus where Martin Luther King, Jr. chose to pursue his doctoral studies in theology. The tradition continues today with attendance by 33,000 students from all U.S. states and some 140 countries. Students can explore more than 250 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs of study. Popular majors include business, management, and marketing; social sciences; communication, journalism, and related programs; health professions; and biological and biomedical sciences.
As might be expected at an urban university, students often seek internships and academic enrichment experiences in the city. True to its history – BU was one of the first schools to offer study abroad programs – the university participates in more than 400 research, service, and education programs on every continent. Such experiences help BU students prepare for life after graduation, and the school’s career center is ready to assist at every stage. A minimum of two career expos are held on campus each year, bringing a variety of employers directly to BU students. An active alumni association encourages grads to stay connected to the school, use its resources for further professional development, and network with other Terriers both online and at hundreds of social events.
From running the Boston Marathon to catching a Red Sox game to sampling every imaginable cuisine, students love to take advantage of what the city of Boston has to offer. The main campus itself, however, can be described as “a city within a city” and bustles with its own activities. (More than three-fourths of undergrads live on campus.) Whether rock climbing at the state-of-the-art FitRec Center, catching a concert at Agganis Arena, or participating in one of 500 student clubs, BU students are never bored. The university competes in NCAA Division I athletics, and students especially enjoy cheering on their nationally ranked men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. Go Terriers!