Our DNA

What compelled the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to award Boston University a grant to fight newborn mortality in Zambia? Why did Martin Luther King, Jr. adopt BU as a place where he could hone his message of justice and equality? Why is Boston University ranked #41 in national universities by U.S. News & World Report for 2025? And what is the catalyst that prompts more than 37,000 students to call BU their home? It’s in our DNA: an inherent desire in each of our students, faculty, and staff to vigorously and dauntlessly pursue knowledge—and embrace the unlimited possibilities that come with it.

A Community Unlike Any Other

As you can see below, it takes people, ideas, and a little luck (Boston, you’re our town) to make BU what it is today: one of the most dynamic universities in the world.

Celebrated thinkers: On any given day, students will find themselves mesmerized by poets laureate, Presidential Award winners, and Fulbright Scholars, among others.

Extraordinary teaching: When a classroom starts to percolate with new ideas, it’s because our faculty of scholars and accomplished practitioners know how to ignite students’ imaginations. That’s why we reward our best teachers with BU’s most prestigious honor: The Metcalf Cup and Prize.

Groundbreaking research: With faculty dedicated to a creative, interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, BU has become a leading global research institution—propelled forward by $579 million in sponsored research awards in FY2024. In fall 2012, BU was invited to join the Association of American Universities, an elite organization of leading research universities in the United States and Canada.

World-class students: Elite students from all 50 states and 140 countries pursue higher education on BU campuses in Boston and at programs in LA, D.C., and more than 30 other cities on six continents.

A city within a city: Today, 75 percent of our undergrads live on campus, which could explain our 450+ student activity groups alone.

The greatest college town in the world: Boston. ’Nuff said.

BU Basics (FY2024)

How many freshmen matriculated last fall? What is the student to faculty ratio? Do you know how many continents BU spans?

• 3,635 freshmen
• 10 students for each faculty member
• Programs on 6 continents

There are so many numbers, statistics, facts, and figures about BU, you could scroll for miles. Here’s a quick overview for FY2024…