Boston University ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average ACT score of 33 and a range spanning 32 to 34, Boston University represents one of the most selective universities in the country. Students who score below the 25th percentile of 32 would face significant challenges in the admissions process. Boston University receives nearly 80,000 applications annually for roughly 3,300 spots, making the competition extraordinarily intense. Scoring at or near the average does not guarantee anything when competing in such a selective environment where most applicants have similarly strong academic profiles.

A good ACT score for Boston University typically means aiming for the 33 to 34 range, with 33 being the middle ground where most admitted students land. However, it is crucial to understand that a strong ACT score alone does not secure your admission to Boston University. Thousands of applicants achieve these scores each year, and many get rejected because the admissions office wants to see what else you bring to the table. Your essays, recommendations, extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, the rigor of your coursework, and your ability to demonstrate how you will enrich the campus community all matter significantly in the final decision.

While Boston University does not publicly state a minimum ACT score, you should realistically aim for at least a 32 to have a competitive chance of being reviewed seriously. If you score below 32, especially in the 30 or 31 range, you would fall below the typical range of admitted students, making acceptance quite unlikely unless you have truly exceptional strengths elsewhere in your application. That said, Boston University explicitly practices holistic review, which means outstanding essays, meaningful extracurriculars, and compelling personal experiences can sometimes help offset a lower test score. Just be honest with yourself about the odds if your ACT falls notably below their middle 50% range.

Boston University maintains a test-optional policy for all first-year undergraduate applicants through fall 2028 and spring 2029. This means you have the choice to submit or withhold your ACT score from your application without penalty. The decision rests entirely with you, and the admissions office has committed to evaluating applicants equally whether or not they include test scores. If you feel your ACT score accurately reflects your academic ability and strengthens your profile, you should submit it, but if your score does not represent your capabilities, you can choose not to include it.

Boston University employs superscoring for the ACT, which works significantly in your favor when you test multiple times. If you take the ACT more than once, Boston University will use the highest score from each individual section across all test dates to calculate your best possible composite score. This means you could take the test several times, do stronger on Math in one sitting and stronger on English in another, and the school will combine your best sections. Additionally, the Writing component of the ACT remains optional, so you have flexibility in what you submit.

Understanding how Boston University uses your ACT score requires recognizing that it functions as just one piece of a much larger evaluation. Your test score helps confirm to the admissions office that you have the intellectual foundation to handle Boston University's rigorous curriculum, but it does not make the case for why you deserve one of their roughly 3,300 acceptance spots. The admissions committee weighs your ACT score alongside your high school GPA, the rigor of your coursework, the quality of your essays, your letters of recommendation, and the depth of your extracurricular involvement. A perfect or near-perfect ACT score can be overshadowed by weak essays or an underwhelming list of activities, while a slightly lower test score can be overlooked if the rest of your application is genuinely compelling.

At a highly selective school like Boston University, your ACT score signals you are academically capable, but it does not differentiate you from the thousands of other capable applicants they receive. The admissions officers want to understand who you are as a person, what drives you, what challenges you have overcome, and what unique perspective or talent you will bring to their community. They look for students who will take advantage of research opportunities, become active on campus, develop meaningful relationships with faculty, and contribute to making Boston University stronger. Your test score opens the door by demonstrating academic readiness, but your full application shows whether you deserve to walk through it.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.