Private not-for-profit · City: Small

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.

At a glance

Admission rate
16.2%
Fall 2024 · past applicant pool, not your chances
Details about admission rate ↓
Undergraduates
9,654
Fall 2024
Details about undergraduates ↓
2026–27 published cost
$100,314
Any state of residence · On campus · before aid
Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Avg. cost after grants
$38,930
2024–25 · federal-aid recipients
Details about avg. cost after grants ↓

Admissions

Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.

Applicants admitted

16.2%

Fall 2024

Historical first-year applicant pool; not your admission chances.

About this number: Applicants admitted

Admission offers divided by applications for the reported pool. Applicant characteristics and campus scope vary; this does not predict an individual decision.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

First-year applications

34,779

Fall 2024

Historical applications in the source-defined pool and year.

About this number: First-year applications

This is an application count, not the size of the entering class. Campus/program reporting scope matters.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

More admissions statistics (5)

First-year admission offers

5,632

Fall 2024

Historical offers of admission, not students who enrolled.

About this number: First-year admission offers

Admitted and enrolled populations differ. This count is separate from acceptance rate or yield.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

New first-year students

2,394

Fall 2024

Historical entering class under the source definition.

About this number: New first-year students

This is neither all undergraduates nor all students who received an admission offer.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Early Decision applicants admitted

33.4%

Fall 2024

A separate historical applicant pool; not proof of an admissions advantage.

About this number: Early Decision applicants admitted

Applicants using this plan differ from the overall pool. This rate does not establish current availability, binding conditions or a causal advantage.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Historical Early Decision applicants

4,288

Fall 2024

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Historical Early Decision applicants

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Historical Early Decision admitted

1,434

Fall 2024

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Historical Early Decision admitted

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic profile of entering students

Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.

SAT middle 50%

1,460–1,520

Fall 2024

Enrolled students who submitted SAT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.

About the 25th percentile: SAT 25th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

About the 75th percentile: SAT 75th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

ACT middle 50%

33–35

Fall 2024

Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.

About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking act submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking act submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

More academics statistics (11)

SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile

710

Fall 2024

Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.

About this number: SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile

760

Fall 2024

Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.

About this number: SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

SAT math · 25th percentile

730

Fall 2024

Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.

About this number: SAT math · 25th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

SAT math · 75th percentile

780

Fall 2024

Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.

About this number: SAT math · 75th percentile

The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters

How ICP checks and explains college data

SAT submitter share

30.0%

Fall 2024

Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.

About this number: SAT submitter share

Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

ACT submitter share

15.0%

Fall 2024

Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.

About this number: ACT submitter share

Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Share reporting GPA

0.0%

Fall 2024

Share of the entering group with reported GPA.

About this number: Share reporting GPA

The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Share reporting class rank

26.6%

Fall 2024

Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.

About this number: Share reporting class rank

Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Top tenth of high-school class

90.0%

Fall 2024

Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.

About this number: Top tenth of high-school class

Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Top quarter of high-school class

96.9%

Fall 2024

Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.

About this number: Top quarter of high-school class

Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Top half of high-school class

99.1%

Fall 2024

Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.

About this number: Top half of high-school class

Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Costs & financial aid

Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.

2026–27 cost of attendance

Published by Boston College
Student and living situation

$100,314

Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid

  • 2026–27

This budget assumes

  • Any state of residence
  • On campus
  • Meal plan required dorm
  • First-year students

What the school includes

Tuition
$75,070
Fees
$2,074
Food and Housing (Living Expenses)
$19,870
Books/misc.
$3,300
Published total
$100,314

Not included in this total

  • Travel (Varies $150-1,800)(only if it applies)No single amount published

Travel (varies $150-1,800) excluded from total; loan fees $51 and medical insurance $4,723 listed separately and not in total.

This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.

About this budget
  • The budget table itself is not dated; the 2026–27 year comes from a dated table on the same page.
  • Incoming-student fees include one-time orientation and student ID charges.
  • ICP’s earlier hand review of this school’s 2026–27 budgets recorded the same figures.
  • Source: How Aid Works – Constructing Financial Aid Awards (cost of attendance table; "Total for 26-27" indirect costs) (Boston College Office of Student Services / Financial Aid). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.

Research notes: Student budget used to construct aid awards. Federal rules require food allowance to cover three meals/day, so it will not match the billed meal plan.

Understand the five kinds of college costs
Tuition & fees
Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
Attendance budget
College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
Your net cost
Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
Borrowing
Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.

Average annual cost after grants & scholarships

$38,930

2024–25

Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.

About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships

Federal average net price: average attendance cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses) minus qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships for this population. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. Loans and work-study are not subtracted. This is not tuition alone, an individual award, a guaranteed price or necessarily a college bill.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid at private institutions

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition

$72,180

2025–2026

Historical published tuition; fees and living expenses may be additional.

About this number: Tuition

Tuition covers instruction under the source conditions. Do not treat it as a full attendance budget or subtract average net price from it.

Boston College Common Data Set · 2025–2026

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

More costs statistics (8)

Required fees

$1,328

2025–2026

Separate source-defined fees; do not add to an amount already including fees.

About this number: Required fees

Review the same-year tuition definition before adding separate fees.

Boston College Common Data Set · 2025–2026

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Housing & food

$19,290

2025–2026

Source-defined living arrangement and year; not necessarily your college bill.

About this number: Housing & food

Living expenses vary by housing arrangement. Do not mix these with a total budget that already includes them.

Boston College Common Data Set · 2025–2026

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · in-state

$73,508

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state

Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Tuition & fees · out-of-state

$73,508

2025–26

Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.

About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state

This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

17.3%

2024–25

Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduates receiving federal loans

28.4%

2024–25

Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.

About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans

A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.

U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25

Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan

How ICP checks and explains college data

Average need-based grant for recipients

$60,503

2024–2025 final as of 2025–10-01

Source-defined first-year aid recipients, not all students.

About this number: Average need-based grant for recipients

An average grant is not an average net price or a promise of aid. Eligibility, institutional need definitions and award amounts vary.

Boston College Common Data Set · 2024–2025 final as of 2025–10-01

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Average financial need met

100.0%

2024–2025 final as of 2025–10-01

Institution-defined need among the reported aid population.

About this number: Average financial need met

The college’s definition of need may differ from a family budget or federal Student Aid Index. This percentage does not predict your award.

Boston College Common Data Set · 2024–2025 final as of 2025–10-01

Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time first-year students

How ICP checks and explains college data

Campus & student outcomes

Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.

Undergraduate students

9,654

Fall 2024

Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.

About this number: Undergraduate students

Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report

How ICP checks and explains college data

Students per faculty member

10

Fall 2024

A reporting ratio, not average class size.

About this number: Students per faculty member

Student and faculty inclusion rules vary. This does not tell you the size of a particular class or guarantee access to an instructor.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: undergraduate and applicable graduate fte

How ICP checks and explains college data

Returned after the first year

96.0%

Fall 2023 to Fall 2024

Source-defined entering cohort and enrollment population.

About this number: Returned after the first year

Retention measures continuation under the source rules, not graduation or satisfaction.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2023 to Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: full time first time bachelors degree seeking

How ICP checks and explains college data

Graduated within six years

91.0%

Fall 2018 entering cohort six year outcome

Reported entering cohort, not every student attending today.

About this number: Graduated within six years

A cohort completion rate describes the source-defined group over time; transfer and part-time populations can differ.

Boston College Common Data Set · Fall 2018 entering cohort six year outcome

Who or what this describes: full time first time bachelors degree seeking

How ICP checks and explains college data

More campus and outcome statistics (7)

Undergraduate students · federal

10,314

Fall 2024

Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.

About this number: Undergraduate students · federal

This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Grand total

How ICP checks and explains college data

Students per faculty member · federal

10

Fall 2024

A reporting ratio, not average class size.

About this number: Students per faculty member · federal

This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.

U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024

Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio

How ICP checks and explains college data

Reported academic calendar

Semester

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Reported academic calendar

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Undergraduate research in federal reporting

Not marked in this report

2025–26

Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.

About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting

The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Study abroad reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Study abroad reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

Academic & career counseling reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: Academic & career counseling reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

AP credit reported

Yes

2025–26

Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.

About this number: AP credit reported

Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.

U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26

Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort

How ICP checks and explains college data

What could you study?

These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.

Historical degree records & sources

Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.

  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

    338 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General

    229 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Finance, General

    212 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric

    202 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Psychology, General

    166 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Computer Science

    150 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Accounting

    140 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Applied Psychology

    116 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other

    110 degrees awarded · 2024-25

  • Neuroscience

    106 degrees awarded · 2024-25

Plan your application

Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.

Boston College — SAT/ACT policy

Test-optional

SAT or ACT scores are optional. Submitted scores are considered in the admission review.

Fall 2027: the current official page does not identify this entry year. Confirm before acting.Exact entry-year policy not verified.

Conditions to check

  • English-language proficiency requirements are separate for international applicants; exemptions must be checked with admissions.
  • Home-schooled applicants are encouraged to submit scores, but this page still describes the policy as optional.

If you submit scores

  • Highest section scores across test dates are considered.
  • Scores may be self-reported during review; enrolled students must provide official reports to verify self-reported results.
  • Submitted scores cannot later be removed from the application.
Read Boston College’s official testing guidance ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Official source checked 2026-10-21. Policies can change.

Different applicant situation?

SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.

Sources & research

Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Institution earnings remain withheld under the research restrictions.

How ICP selects and explains data →