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BU Villanova Northeastern TCU Baylor Tufts UT Austin Babson Colgate UT Dallas Brandeis University Texas A&M| Boston College | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BC | SMU | ||
| Location | Chestnut Hill, MA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 15,287 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #45 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bc.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BC | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,950 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,950 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,120 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,559 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $49,992 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 40% | 73% |
Admission |
BC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 40,494 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 6,748 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 16.7% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 34.6% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1435/1540 | 1370/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
BC | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BC | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $90,900 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $222 |
Diversity |
BC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 0% |
Students |
BC | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 71% | 58% | ||
Campus |
BC | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston College is larger than than SMU based on total student enrollment (15,287 students vs. 12,053 students)
BC vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BC or SMU?
- Boston College is 14.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($62,950.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.4% higher at BC than Southern Methodist University ($62,950.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than SMU ($30,559 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 10.1% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($16,120 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Boston College (73% vs. 40%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 41.4% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($49,992 vs. $35,344)
BC vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BC or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or BC .
- The average SAT score at Boston College (1380) is 50 points higher than at SMU (1330)
- Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than BC (16.7%)
BC vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BC or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and BC.
- The graduation rate at BC is higher than Southern Methodist University (91% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Boston College earn on average $17,900 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $73,000)
- Boston College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $21,500)
- BC graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($196 vs. $222)
- More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/