Boston College
A good fit for competitive applicants and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $92,500 within 10 years; exceptional 91% graduation rate.
About This School
Boston College is a private nonprofit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts with approximately 10,085 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 16%. The average net price after financial aid is $41,704 per year. The graduation rate is 91%, and the typical graduate earns $92,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Boston College (BC) is a private Catholic Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order, the university has more than 15,000 total students.
This is a strong option for students drawn to a values-grounded, Jesuit education with real career payoff — a 91% graduation rate and median earnings of $92,500 a decade out suggest students are finishing and landing well. The relatively modest median debt of $17,962 at graduation looks reasonable against those earnings, though the $39,866 average net price means you'll want to run the numbers carefully before assuming aid will make it affordable for your family. At 16% acceptance, it's a reach for most applicants, so apply with clear-eyed expectations.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 17% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Boston College graduates earn most above the national rate in Finance and Financial Management Services ($147,746 vs $83,343 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 384 | $147,746 | $83,343 | +$64,403 |
| Economics | 335 | $121,337 | $82,686 | +$38,651 |
| Biology, General | 220 | $83,614 | $57,214 | +$26,400 |
| Political Science and Government | 158 | $86,537 | $63,293 | +$23,244 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 153 | $83,586 | $56,359 | +$27,227 |
| Computer Science | 144 | $143,204 | $107,009 | +$36,195 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 133 | $76,328 | $50,523 | +$25,805 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 120 | $123,144 | $68,257 | +$54,887 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 115 | $94,867 | $88,910 | +$5,957 |
| Psychology, General | 111 | $70,033 | $50,706 | +$19,327 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 109 | $126,475 | $86,176 | +$40,299 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 90 | $91,874 | $59,972 | +$31,902 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (10,085 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Massachusetts
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Northeastern University
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Boston University
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See How Colleges Compare
Boston College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Boston College?
Boston College has an acceptance rate of 16%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Boston College hard to get into?
Boston College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 16%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Boston College cost?
The average net price at Boston College is about $41,704 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Boston College?
Boston College has a graduation rate of 91%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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