Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, known for blending a liberal-arts core grounded in the Jesuit tradition with professional strengths in business through its Carroll School of Management. Admission is highly selective: BC admitted about 16.2% of nearly 34,800 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1460–1520 and 33–35 on the ACT. Business is by far the most-conferred field at roughly 29% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the social sciences. Boston College is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, with a typical first-year aid package near $62,900.
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Boston College admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Boston College offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.4× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Boston College is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Boston College's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 26.6% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Boston College does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Boston College weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Boston College's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Boston College admissions
Is it hard to get into Boston College?＋
Yes — Boston College is highly selective, admitting about 16.2% of applicants in the most recent cycle. BC offered admission to roughly 5,632 of 34,779 applicants and enrolled about 2,394 first-years. The class also clusters near the top of the high school cohort: among enrolled students who reported a class rank, about 90% were in the top tenth of their graduating class.
What GPA do you need to get into Boston College?＋
Boston College does not publish an average admitted GPA, so there is no fixed cutoff. The better signal is class standing and course rigor: among enrolled first-years who reported a rank, about 90% were in the top tenth and roughly 97% in the top quarter of their class. Both the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA are weighed as very important factors in BC's review.
Does Boston College require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Boston College is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting scores and still receive full consideration. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1460–1520 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. Standardized test scores are listed as a considered factor — below grades and course rigor in BC's review.
Does Boston College have Early Decision or Early Action?＋
Boston College offers binding Early Decision I and II — there is no Early Action option. The early rounds drew 4,288 applications, of which about 1,434 were admitted (roughly a 33% early admit rate, versus 16.2% overall). Because ED is binding, apply early only if BC is your clear first choice and you are prepared to enroll if admitted.
How much does Boston College cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $73,508 per year, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $19,290 more before books and personal expenses. Boston College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 35% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average first-year aid package near $62,865.
What are the most popular majors at Boston College?＋
Business is by far the most-conferred field at about 29% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting the strength of the Carroll School of Management. The social sciences follow at 18.8%, then the biological sciences at 10.4%, with psychology (8.5%), computer science (6.3%), and communication (5.3%) rounding out the most popular programs.
What does Boston College look for in applicants?＋
BC's review leans hardest on academics: the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA are both rated very important. A tier below, extracurricular activities, talent, character, and demonstrated service are each weighed as important. The application essay, recommendations, and test scores are considered, while interviews and demonstrated interest are not factored in.
Source: Boston College Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Boston College. Banner photo by Amandajunyue, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).