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Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston College is a private research university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Established in 1863, it is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic colleges in the United States. Known for its strong commitment to academic excellence and faith-based education, Boston College offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs spread across nine schools and colleges.
At Boston College, students have the opportunity to explore a diverse array of academic disciplines, including liberal arts, sciences, management, nursing, education, and theology. The university's core curriculum, known as the "Jesuit Liberal Arts and Sciences," focuses on enhancing critical thinking, communication skills, and ethical reasoning. This holistic approach to education is complemented by a commitment to spiritual development and social justice, aligning with the Jesuit tradition.
Apart from its academic reputation, Boston College boasts a vibrant campus life. From its beautiful campus filled with historical buildings and green spaces, to its wide range of student organizations, clubs, and athletic programs, there is always something happening at BC. The university's athletic teams, known as the Eagles, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference, and school spirit runs deep with a strong fan base. Overall, Boston College provides an enriching environment where students can grow academically, spiritually, and personally, fostering a community of engaged learners and responsible global citizens.
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA and set in a suburban environment, Boston College is a private university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 16%. The freshman retention rate at Boston College is 93% and the six-year graduation rate is 91%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Here are some latest information on important things to consider about Boston College.
Quick Facts
9,484
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16%
Acceptance Rate
$69,400
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
91%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Check out some vital info about admission at Boston College.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,748 in 2023. Boston College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Boston College provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 34% and ACT scores 18%. 92.38% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 7.12% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 97.35, 2.41 between 24-29 and 0.24 between 12-17.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
16%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Boston College was 93% in 2023, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 91%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect fit for you. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Boston College in 2023 was 14,734.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 75. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 9,484, 686 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 124 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,929 male and 7,239 female full-time students in 2023. 1,494 full-time graduate men and 2,190 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 1,100, while the number of Black American students was 468. 1,062 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 317 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 268 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Boston College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2023 was $69,400 for full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $680 in 2023.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,250.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2023, room and board cost at Boston College amounted to $17,930 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2023 totaled $10,730 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 69,400 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,930 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 88,580 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Boston College.
The most recent records show that 926 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $56,574.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 3,299 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Boston College isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 3,727. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $10,057,269, and state $1,329,200. The students of Boston College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $163,742,582, and external in the amount of $3,422,407.
$16,835
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
142 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 50 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $6,623,360. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,387,627 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Boston College was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 1,114 faculty members at this school. This number included 756 male and 719 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Boston College: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Boston College.
It has a campus size of 276 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 300 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is 4Boston, followed by Dance Marathon and Appalachia Volunteers. Other popular student organizations at this school are Asian Caucus and UGBC and individual School Senates.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Boston College band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students looking to explore media and communication, Boston College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Boston College offers a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Boston College.
All in all, campus life at Boston College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Boston College.
Career Counselling
At Boston College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 62,000 USD.
$62,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA.
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Boston College doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Boston College is 69,400 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Boston College is 16%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Boston College is 93%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.