About BU
Boston University is no small operation. With over 38,000 students from 140+ countries, over 11,000 faculty and staff, 17 schools and colleges and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, and more than 300 programs of study, our three campuses are always humming, always in high gear. Get to know the people and teams that keep the University running smoothly.
Our DNA
What compelled the 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 38,000 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 $579.5 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 more than 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, 66 percent of our undergrads live on campus, which could explain our 400+ student activity groups alone.