BC vs. Hunter

Deciding between Boston College and CUNY Hunter College? 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

BC vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than BC ($4,431 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 37.4% lower than at Boston College ($11,832 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 857.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $63,320 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 361.1% higher at BC than at CUNY Hunter College (about $55,370 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Boston College (87% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 484% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($56,971 vs. $9,755).

BC vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Hunter? 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 Hunter and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 230 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

BC vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $42,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $7,452 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($11,548 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($119 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 56%)

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.