Boston, MA · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Boston University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 36,624-student campus.

2.24
Incidents / 1k students
#2,076
Rank of 3,050
#45
MA rank
36,624
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Boston University reports 2.24 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,076 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 67% of ranked campuses its size.

2.24
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,076
of 3,050 ranked nationally
67%
report fewer incidents than this campus
70
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+26 reported incidents

Boston University increased from 44 to 70 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Boston University is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Boston, MA, enrolling approximately 36,624 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 162 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within MA, it ranks #45 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 36,624 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Boston University is "Fondling" with 51 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in MA averaging 3.99 incidents per 1,000 students, Boston University reports 44% fewer incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 18 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 72 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

2.24 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2076

See peer comparison

State Rank (MA)

#45

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

70

across 11 crime categories

Where Boston University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

2 safer than 33% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). This entry sits in this band. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Boston University percentile rank 31.9%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2076 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Boston University reports 44% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$68,102
Out-of-State Tuition
$68,102
Avg Net Price
$24,402
Median Debt
$23,250
Pell Grant Recipients
19%
How does this cost rank in MA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
11%
SAT Average
1480
SAT Math Range
730–780
ACT Average
33
ACT Range
32–34

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Retention Rate
95%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$65,655
Median Earnings (10yr)
$83,238
Loan Repayment (3yr)
87%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 36,624 enrolled students, Boston University is in the largest 2% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Boston University: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 46% (48 → 70 incidents)

4050607080 202120222023 48 70 ▲ +45.8%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 171016
Arson 102
Burglary 998
Fondling 34116
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 020
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 61111
Robbery 315
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 18 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

72 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
72 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 1 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 282
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0

Boston University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

MA

Boston University

2.24 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,076
Enrollment
36,624
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · 36,582 enrolled
Safety Score 7.65
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · 36,579 enrolled
Safety Score 2.02
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 36,304 enrolled
Safety Score 3.94
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · 36,062 enrolled
Safety Score 3.74
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · 37,323 enrolled
Safety Score 2.57

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Boston University nationally (rank #2076), regardless of size or state.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
National Rank #2075
Big Bend Community College
Moses Lake, WA
National Rank #2077
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
National Rank #2074
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
National Rank #2078
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC
National Rank #2073

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston University safe?
Boston University has a safety score of 2.24 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,076 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Boston University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Boston University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in MA.
Does Boston University have fire safety data?
Yes. Boston University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 18 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Boston University's Safety Profile

Boston University in Boston, MA enrolls 36,624 students and has a safety score of 2.24 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2076 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 44 in 2022 to 70 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 18 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Boston University's 2.24 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.