BC vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Boston College and Vanderbilt 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
Vanderbilt University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 13,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt University than BC ($25,186 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 14.2% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($18,916 vs. $22,054).
  • Boston College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Vanderbilt (about $3,204 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at BC than at Vanderbilt University (about $3,204 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Boston College (67% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 13% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($64,404 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

BC vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Vanderbilt? 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).

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Vanderbilt graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($14,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($144 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 83%)

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.