Boston University is a major global research institution, creating breakthroughs in everything from African studies to zebrafish genetics. With over 34,000 part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 10,000 faculty and staff spread across 17 schools and colleges, BU’s three city campuses are always humming. Established in 1869 by three Methodist businessmen, Boston University has since evolved into the largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private university in the country. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. Our graduates are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.

BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.BU is also a global university, with thousands of international scholars, faculty, and students on campus at any given time. By the same token, thousands of Terriers and faculty members get their passports stamped each year for study, research, and internship opportunities on all seven continents.
With an alumni base of more than 300,000 graduates, Boston University has produced many notable alums including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The University counts 11 current or former governors of US states, 7 United States senators, and 32 members of the United States House of Representatives among its alumni. And a slew of Hollywood stars, including Geena Davis, Julianne Moore, Faye Dunaway, and Jason Alexander, call BU their alma mater, as do a number of other celebrated artists and thinkers.
BU is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internship, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

Boston University (BU) is famous for several reasons, ranging from its academic excellence to its contributions in research, arts, and culture:

1. Academic Reputation:

BU is consistently ranked among the top universities globally, offering a wide range of programs through schools like the Questrom School of Business, School of Law, and College of Engineering. It is known for its strength in public health, communications, fine arts, and international relations.

2. Research Excellence:

Boston University is a leading research institution, classified as an R1 research university by the Carnegie Classification, denoting the highest level of research activity. Its National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) is one of the few biosafety level-4 labs in the U.S., contributing to cutting-edge research in infectious diseases.

3. Nobel Prize Connections:

Boston University is associated with Nobel laureates, including:

• Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, author, and professor at BU, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.
• Sheldon Glashow, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his work on electroweak theory, was a faculty member at BU.

4. Prominent Alumni:

BU has produced numerous notable alumni in various fields, such as:

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who earned his Ph.D. in Theology from BU in 1955 and is celebrated for his leadership in the civil rights movement.
• Howard Stern, a famous radio personality.
• Julianne Moore, an Academy Award-winning actress.

5. Cultural Impact:

BU has strong programs in the arts and humanities, with its College of Fine Arts and College of Communication producing top-tier talent in theater, film, and journalism. Its Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center also holds valuable historical documents and archives, attracting scholars from around the world.

6. Location and Global Engagement:

Located in the heart of Boston, one of the world’s leading academic and cultural cities, BU benefits from its proximity to other world-class institutions. Its global programs include study abroad opportunities in more than 90 countries, enhancing its reputation as an international university.

Boston University’s combination of academic rigor, research initiatives, and global outreach has made it a highly respected institution worldwide.