Boston University
Boston University is a private nonprofit research university in Boston, founded in 1839, operating 17 schools and colleges serving undergraduate, graduate, international, and continuing education students via tuition, research grants, and auxiliary services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1839
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Boston University does
Boston University is a private, nonprofit research university headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1839 and incorporated under the legal entity Trustees of Boston University. The university operates 17 schools and colleges offering more than 300 degree programs across two primary campuses — the Charles River Campus (One Silber Way) and the Medical Campus — spanning 1,000+ acres. Its customer base is segmented into undergraduate students, graduate students (master's, doctoral, professional), international students recruited from over 130 countries, and continuing education learners. The institution generates revenue through four primary streams: tuition and fees (with online master's programs priced at approximately $25,000), federal and private research grants (NIH, NSF, DARPA, Leducq Foundation), endowment and alumni donations, and auxiliary services (housing, dining, parking, Agganis Arena, FitRec). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through recruitment events, digital marketing, international education consultants, and application platforms, supported by a presence across major social channels including Weibo and TikTok.
The university has recently intensified investment in AI and digital education. BU launched TerrierGPT, a proprietary generative AI chatbot consolidating large language models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Amazon under enterprise data security agreements. BU Virtual is introducing five new AI-focused online master's degrees in Fall 2026, and the School of Law is launching an AI for Law Practice certificate with AI integration across the J.D. curriculum. AI research capabilities are demonstrated through DARPA-funded work on algorithmic trust, NIH-funded biomedical hypergraph drug repurposing, NSF membership in IAIFI, computer-vision robotics (AGROBOT T.O.M.), and anomaly-detection systems (LOKI). Auxiliary operations are managed through partnerships with Aramark (dining) and Barnes & Noble College (bookstore) and support a substantial campus experience footprint.
Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees, with Melissa Gilliam serving as president since 2024 after Robert A. Brown's tenure (2005–2024). The institution faces current financial pressure — a $30 million budget shortfall has prompted early retirement offers to tenured faculty — while simultaneously expanding online education, continuing professional education (the Network for Professional Education has trained 16,000+ professionals and generated over $2 million in revenue), and research partnerships (QuTEM AB U.S. satellite lab, MassMutual corporate engagement). BU has 10,000+ employees and maintains global operating reach across North America, South America, and Europe.
Boston University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boston University
- Legal name
- Trustees of Boston University
- Website
- https://bu.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1839
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Boston University is a private nonprofit research university in Boston, founded in 1839, operating 17 schools and colleges serving undergraduate, graduate, international, and continuing education students via tuition, research grants, and auxiliary services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boston University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)
Keywords
Where Boston University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boston University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including full-time, part-time, and continuing education programs
- Research Grants and Funding: Federal and private research grants from agencies like NSF, NIH, and industry partners supporting academic research
- Endowments and Donations: Gifts and endowment income from alumni and supporters supporting operations and scholarships
- Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing, dining services, parking, and other student facilities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Online Graduate Programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Boston University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boston University is a private, nonprofit research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs across 17 schools and colleges, alongside continuing education, online master's degrees, and certificate programs. The university conducts federally and privately funded research and operates auxiliary student services including housing, dining, recreation, and event venues. Educational programs are delivered on-campus in Boston and through online platforms including the BU Virtual portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
Companies that use Boston University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Boston University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature1 record
Boston University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- QuTEM ABcoreCollaboration with QuTEM AB for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) services supporting research and academic programs
- National Science Foundation AI Institute (IAIFI)coreAI Institute forzd Foundation-funded institute advancing AI research with participation from Boston University and other academic institutions
- MassMutualminorPartnership for Data Days for Good program, a corporate engagement initiative connecting students with industry data challenges
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Boston University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northeastern University: Northeastern is a private research university also based in Boston with comparable scale, comprehensive programs, and a strong focus on professional and experiential education. It is the closest direct competitor for Boston-area talent, faculty, and donor dollars.
- New York University: NYU is a large private research university in a major US metropolitan market with similarly comprehensive schools, a global brand, and a significant international student population. Both institutions compete for graduate students, faculty, and research funding.
- Tufts University: Tufts is a private research university in the Boston metro area with comparable research intensity, medical school, and international programs. It competes with BU for Boston-area students, faculty, and research dollars.
- University of Southern California: USC is a large private research university in a major US metro with similarly comprehensive schools, a large international student population, and significant online and professional education offerings. BU has hired USC alumni like VP Kristian Klinger into senior roles.
- Northwestern University: Northwestern is a private research university with comparable comprehensive programs, large medical and professional schools, and a Chicago-metro base. BU has hired from Northwestern (Paul Riel in Auxiliary Services) for senior operations roles.
- Georgetown University: Georgetown is a private research university with similar comprehensive school structure, strong professional schools (law, business, public policy), and an urban campus identity that mirrors BU's positioning.
- Duke University: Duke is a leading private research university with comparable scale, significant federal research funding, comprehensive professional schools, and strong global brand that places it in direct competition with BU for top-tier applicants and faculty.
- Washington University in St. Louis: WashU is a private research university of comparable size with top-ranked medical and engineering schools, significant NIH funding, and a similar urban-suburban research campus profile that competes with BU for research talent and graduate students.
- Emory University: Emory is a private research university with a strong medical campus, comparable NIH funding scale, and similar comprehensive program structure that positions it as a peer for faculty recruitment and research competition.
- Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a private research university with strong STEM and computing focus that overlaps with BU's growing AI and engineering initiatives. Both compete for tech talent, AI research funding, and graduate students in computer science and engineering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boston University social profiles
Digital presenceBoston University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boston University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Boston University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boston University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments13 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boston University
What does Boston University do?
Boston University is a private, nonprofit research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs across 17 schools and colleges, alongside continuing education, online master's degrees, and certificate programs. The university conducts federally and privately funded research and operates auxiliary student services including housing, dining, recreation, and event venues. Educational programs are delivered on-campus in Boston and through online platforms including the BU Virtual portal.
Is Boston University a public or private company?
Boston University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Boston University founded?
Boston University was founded in 1839. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Boston University based?
Boston University is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Boston University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Funding, endowments and Donations and auxiliary Services.
Who are Boston University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northeastern University, New York University, Tufts University, University of Southern California, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis, Emory University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Does Boston University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boston University.
What industry is Boston University in?
Boston University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary), with a secondary code of EDAHALAK, Online Nonprofit Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.