BC vs. Trinity

Deciding between Boston College and Trinity 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
Trinity University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Trinity San Antonio, TX
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Trinity Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Trinity 2,687
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Trinity Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Trinity #64
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Trinity Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Trinity

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Trinity $14,750
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Trinity $32,224
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Trinity $35,990
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Trinity 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Trinity 12,506
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Trinity 3,241
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Trinity 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Trinity 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Trinity 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Trinity 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Trinity 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Trinity A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Trinity Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Trinity High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Trinity 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Trinity 1340/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Trinity Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Trinity Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Trinity 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Trinity
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Trinity 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Trinity $62,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Trinity 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Trinity $25,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Trinity $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Trinity 45%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Trinity 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Trinity High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Trinity No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Trinity 55%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Trinity 6%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Trinity 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Trinity 20%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Trinity 5%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Trinity 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Trinity 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Trinity 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Trinity 18%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Trinity based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 2,687 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Trinity University is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Trinity University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Trinity University 8:1.

BC vs. Trinity Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Trinity? 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 Trinity University than BC ($32,224 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity University are 22% lower than at Boston College ($14,750 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 31.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trinity (about $17,026 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.7% higher at BC than at Trinity University (about $17,026 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity University than at Boston College (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 58.3% larger than aid received by Trinity University students ($56,971 vs. $35,990).

BC vs. Trinity Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 70 points higher than at Trinity (1420).
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Trinity).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Trinity University 1340/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Trinity University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Trinity - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Trinity Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Trinity (3.68).
  • Trinity has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 20.1% at Trinity.

BC vs. Trinity Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Trinity? 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 Trinity University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $28,100 more per year than Trinity graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $62,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Trinity graduates ($19,000 vs. $25,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trinity graduates ($196 vs. $263).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinity 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.