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Boston College

Private

Chestnut Hill, MA

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Boston College is a private large school in Chestnut Hill, MA, enrolling about 10,085 undergraduates. Boston College is selective, with an acceptance rate near 16%. Its highest-earning reported major is Finance and Financial Management Services (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $147,746/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate16%
SAT range1440–1540
ACT range33–35
Undergrads10,085
Yield (admits who enroll)35%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$89,493
4-year grad rate91%
Median earnings, 10yr out$103,937

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How Boston College weighs your application

From Boston College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankImportant
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresImportant
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationConsidered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans30%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out91%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$83,614/yr
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$75,274/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$147,746/yr
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$132,903/yr
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$126,475/yr
Accounting and Related Services$126,461/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$123,144/yr
Marketing$106,353/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$83,586/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$143,204/yr
Information Science/Studies$131,090/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$61,719/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$70,141/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$94,867/yr
History
History$80,073/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$111,072/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
International/Globalization Studies$91,874/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$82,861/yr
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy$97,519/yr
Psychology
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$76,328/yr
Psychology, General$70,033/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$121,337/yr
Political Science and Government$86,537/yr
Sociology$70,121/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity7,619
Typical room charge$10,120
Typical board charge$6,000

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Boston College look for in applicants?

Per Boston College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Boston College's acceptance rate?

Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA admits approximately 16% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Boston College?

Admitted students at Boston College typically score between 1440–1540 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Boston College?

Admitted students at Boston College typically score between 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Boston College cost?

Boston College's total cost of attendance is reported at $89,493 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Boston College?

Boston College's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Boston College require students to live on campus?

No -- Boston College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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