A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at BU are predominantly White with a small Foreign Resident population. The school has very high racial diversity. 57% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
43%
|
| Black |
4%
|
| Hispanic |
11%
|
| Asian |
14%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
4%
|
| International |
20%
|
| Race Unknown |
5%
|
There are 30% more female students than male students enrolled at Boston University with a gender ratio of 28% women to 21% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, BU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
21%
|
| Women |
28%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
7,797
|
| Women |
10,171
|
BU serves a high number of out-of-state students with 87% of the student body residing outside of Massachusetts or from other countries.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
14%
|
| Out of State |
61%
|
| Foreign |
26%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
19% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 2.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 2.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=164988 IPEDS survey data for Boston University.
Last updated February 24, 2025