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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.
Boston College is a private university located in Chestnut Hill, MA. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 16%. The freshman retention rate at Boston College is 96% and the six-year graduation rate is 91%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 2. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Learn more about what Boston College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
9,654
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$72,180
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
91%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Discover some important data about admission policy and requirements at Boston College.
According to the newest data, 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 takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. 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. This eminent institution with a rich history offers an excellent learning experience to its students.
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 new 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 incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99.2 and 0.8 between 24-29.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 2. If considering applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Boston College was 96% in 2025, which is an amazing 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. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 91%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 14,726 students.
That year, the school had 76% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 9,654 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 639 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 181.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 6,087 male and 7,276 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, 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 480. 1,211 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 503 as multirace. The school also had 7 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 153 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Boston College that the majority of students face.
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.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $72,180 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,328.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,250.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Boston College was $19,290 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $10,940 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $10,259.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 72,180 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,290 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 92,720 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Boston College.
The most recent records show that 921 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $61,753 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 3,275 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 3,628. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $13,468,470, and state $1,452,050. The students of Boston College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $170,735,516, and external in the amount of $3,280,015.
$26,364
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.
96 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 26 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $11,038,923. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,742,534 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 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. According to the most recent information, there are 1,518 teachers at this school. This number included 736 men and 782 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 spans 274 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
This school has 300 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that is most favored by students is 4Boston, followed by Dance Marathon and Appalachia Volunteers. Other popular organizations among the students at Boston College are Asian Caucus and UGBC and individual School Senates.
Students who like music 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
At Boston College, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. 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 highly beneficial 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Boston College is 72,180 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Boston College is 16%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Boston College is 96%.
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.
