BC vs. Villanova

Deciding between Boston College and Villanova 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
Villanova University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Villanova? 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 Boston College than Villanova ($32,519 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 6.5% lower than at Boston College ($17,694 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Villanova (about $2,926 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at BC than at Villanova University (about $2,926 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Villanova University than at Boston College (48% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 19.7% larger than aid received by Villanova University students ($56,971 vs. $47,609).

BC vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 40 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
  • Incoming BC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Villanova).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at BC (3.86).
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (27%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

BC vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Villanova? 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 Villanova University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Villanova graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $85,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $7,497 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($196 vs. $273).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Villanova students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 90%)

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.