Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Small city
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 16.4%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 36,069
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 5,645
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 2,335
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 41%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 14%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 17%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 710–760
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 730–780
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 33–35
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 28% / 16%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- required
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- required
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $89,493
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $70,702
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $70,702
- Median debt at graduation
- $19,000
- Students with federal loans
- 30%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 91%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 96%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $61,773
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $103,937
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 10,085
- Graduate students
- 5,118
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 10 : 1
- Women
- 52%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 13%
- Full-time faculty
- 61%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- William P. Leahy, S.J.
- Main phone
- (617) 552-8000
- Address
- 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 1 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 4 | February 15 |
| Regular Decision | January 4 | April 1 |
- Apply with
- Common App
- Application fee
- $85 (waivers available)
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- 1 required essay (400 words) chosen from 4 prompts
- Recommendations
- Counselor + 2 teachers
Testing: Test-optional
Financial aid policies
- Need-blind for U.S. applicants
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Merit scholarships: Presidential Scholarship only, about 18 per year
- First-year aid packages include a $3,500 federal loan
Early rounds & waitlist (2024-2025)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 33.4% (1,434 of 4,288)
- Waitlist: offered / accepted / admitted
- 7,444 / 4,139 / 352
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2024-2025: bc.edu, bc.edu, bc.edu, bc.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.