BC vs. Wake Forest

Deciding between Boston College and Wake Forest 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
Wake Forest University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Wake Forest -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Wake Forest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Wake Forest 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Wake Forest -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Wake Forest -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Wake Forest $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Wake Forest No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Wake Forest 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Wake Forest 84%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston College is larger than Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.

BC vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest University than BC ($24,401 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wake Forest University are 2.2% lower than at Boston College ($18,494 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wake Forest (about $3,060 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,642.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at BC than at Wake Forest University (about $3,060 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,642.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston College than at Wake Forest University (40% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 10.8% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($63,117 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Wake Forest Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 20 points higher than at Wake Forest (1470).
  • Incoming BC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Wake Forest).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Wake Forest University 1410/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Wake Forest University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Wake Forest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
  • Wake Forest has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.

BC vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest University's (88%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than Wake Forest graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($19,000 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($196 vs. $237).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wake Forest 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.