Boston College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

Boston College is a selective private research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, with about 10,085 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 16.43% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $103,937 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $70,702
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $41,704 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 16.43% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,085 97.3% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 90.83%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 13.2%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 60.9%
  • Average SAT Score: 1507
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,749
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 36,069
  • Room & Board: $18,916 annual estimate

Boston College: what the data shows

Common questions about Boston College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Boston College?

Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (ZIP 02467).

NCES locale classification: Town.

Is Boston College public or private?

Boston College is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Boston College cost?

Published tuition: $70,702.

Average net price after aid: $41,704.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$4,284
$30,001–$48,000$7,304
$48,001–$75,000$13,112
$75,001–$110,000$19,999
$110,001+$60,308

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $282,808.

How hard is it to get into Boston College?

Admission rate: 16.43%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1507 and midpoint ACT 34.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Boston College?

Total enrollment: 10,085 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 10,749 students.

Graduate enrollment: 5,118 students.

About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Boston College?

150%-time completion rate: 90.83%.

First-year retention: 96.0%.

What do graduates of Boston College earn?

Median earnings: $85,717 six years after entry; $103,937 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $19,000.

12.91% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Boston College known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Boston College a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 16.43%; completion rate 90.83%; median earnings $103,937 at 10 years; net price $41,704. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$70,702
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Boston College was $70,702.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$41,704
2024 Value

In 2024 Boston College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $41,704.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$166,816 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$41,704 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$282,808 4-Year Tuition

$18,916 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$90,868 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$363,472 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Boston College.

Financial Aid by Income Level

12.91% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

29.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Boston College was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Boston College in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$45,622$45,622$33,070
2014$47,436$47,436$33,464
2015$49,324$49,324$33,661
2016$51,296$51,296$34,356
2017$53,346$53,346$34,550
2018$55,464$55,464$33,562
2019$57,910$57,910$35,899
2020$60,202$60,202$36,599
2021$61,706$61,706$38,412
2022$64,176$64,176$39,090
2023$67,680$67,680$39,866

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

16.43% Acceptance Rate

36,069 Total Applicants

5,645 Students Admitted

2,335 First-Time Students Enrolled

41.36% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1507

ACT Average: 34

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0

Estimated Median GPA: 4.00

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Boston College reported total enrollment of about 10,085 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (56.6%), Hispanic or Latino (13.0%), and Asian (11.1%). About 12.91% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 13.2% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

97.3% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Boston College in 2024 is 10,085 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 10,749 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,118 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

96.0%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 56.6%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

86.44% 100% Completion Time

90.83% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 86.44% of students graduating from Boston College completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Finance, General: 78% male / 22% female
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 64% male / 36% female
  • Law: 44% male / 56% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Boston College.

Return on Investment

$19,000 Median Student Debt

$103,937 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

18.28% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

523.06% Return on Investment

1.8 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Boston College.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 92 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Finance, General: 474 completions

2. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 451 completions

3. Law: 341 completions

4. Social Work: 278 completions

5. Business Administration and Management, General: 217 completions

6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 191 completions

7. Political Science and Government, General: 183 completions

8. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 175 completions

9. Psychology, General: 156 completions

Most popular programs at Boston College.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Boston College graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Boston College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 60.9%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $18,131
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $27,008

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Boston College is a private non-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, MA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Finance, General, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Law. Enrollment is approximately 10,085 students. Student body composition includes White (56.6%), Hispanic or Latino (13.0%), Asian (11.1%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 16.43%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1507. The 150%-time completion rate is 90.83%. Approximately 12.91% of students receive Pell Grants. About 13.2% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Region: New England

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 90.83% graduation rate, Boston College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Strong Career Outcomes: Boston College graduates report median earnings of $103,937 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 92 distinct degree programs, Boston College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Boston College located?

Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA.

What is Boston College's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Boston College is 16.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 36,069 applicants and 5,645 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Boston College cost?

Reported tuition is $70,702 and average net price is $41,704 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,916 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Boston College?

Boston College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 10,749 students, White (56.6%), Hispanic or Latino (13.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Boston College?

About 13.2% of students at Boston College are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Boston College?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Boston College reports midpoint SAT about 1507 and midpoint ACT about 34.

What do graduates of Boston College earn?

Median earnings are $85,717 six years after entry and $103,937 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Boston College?

The 150%-time completion rate is 90.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Boston College students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,000.

Is Boston College public or private?

Boston College is a private nonprofit institution located in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Is Boston College an HBCU?

No. Boston College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Boston College a tribal college?

No. Boston College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • New England regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Massachusetts

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.