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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, Boston College is a private university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 16%. The freshman retention rate at Boston College is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 91%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Boston College.
Quick Facts
9,654
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$72,180
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
91%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Check out some vital data about admission policy and requirements at Boston College.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 5,632 in 2025. Boston College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose 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. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
30% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 15% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 94.8% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 4.8% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99.2 and 0.8 between 24-29.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Boston College was 95%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 91%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal place for you is not easy. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 14,726 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 78. There was a total of 9,654 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 639 international students. 181 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 6,087 male and 7,276 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population 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. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 1,100 Asian students and 480 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,211 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 503 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 153 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Boston College that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Boston College? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $72,180 for all full-time domestic students. As Boston College is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $1,388 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,250.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Boston College was $18,284 in 2025. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $10,940 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 72,180 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,284 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,714 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Boston College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 926 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $56,561.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 3,300 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 3,728. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $10,057,269, and state $1,321,700. The students of Boston College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $163,757,171, and external in the amount of $3,422,407.
$16,927
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
142 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 50 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $6,619,511. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,387,627 USD.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
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. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,474. Out of that number, there were 734 men and 740 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Boston College.
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 info about social life at Boston College.
Its campus is 274 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
There are 300 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is 4Boston, followed by Dance Marathon and Appalachia Volunteers. Other popular organizations at Boston College are Asian Caucus and UGBC and individual School Senates.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Boston College band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Boston College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Boston College offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and 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 excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 71,000 USD.
$71,000
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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According to the latest information, the tuition for Boston College is 72,180 USD a year.
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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 data indicate that the acceptance rate for Boston College is 16%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Boston College is 95%.
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.