BC vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Boston College and Carnegie Mellon University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston College
Carnegie Mellon University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BC Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BC No
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • BC Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BC No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BC Yes
  • Carnegie Mellon No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

BC vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Carnegie Mellon? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than Carnegie Mellon ($32,519 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 4% lower than at Boston College ($18,166 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $4,456 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,246.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at BC than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $4,456 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,246.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than at Boston College (51% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 18.4% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($56,971 vs. $48,107).

BC vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Carnegie Mellon? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Carnegie Mellon and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 50 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Carnegie Mellon (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

BC vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Carnegie Mellon? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $90,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($196 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 90%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.