BC vs. Stanford

Deciding between Boston College and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Stanford University 6:1.

BC vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than BC ($25,078 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 11.3% lower than at Stanford University ($18,916 vs. $21,315).
  • Boston College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $4,792 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at BC than at Stanford University (about $4,792 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Boston College (61% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($62,755 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 60 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

BC vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $32,000 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $90,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $6,525 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($12,475 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($128 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 88%)

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.