BC vs. WUSTL

Deciding between Boston College and Washington University in St Louis? 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
Washington University in St Louis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • WUSTL #21
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • WUSTL -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • WUSTL

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • WUSTL 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • WUSTL 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • WUSTL A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • WUSTL Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • WUSTL $205

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • WUSTL 47%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • WUSTL High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • WUSTL No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • WUSTL 55%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • WUSTL 19%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • WUSTL 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • WUSTL 7%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • WUSTL 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • WUSTL 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • WUSTL 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • WUSTL 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • WUSTL 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Washington University in St Louis is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Washington University in St Louis is in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Washington University in St Louis 7:1.

BC vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or WUSTL ? 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 Washington University in St Louis than BC ($22,408 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 13.4% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($18,916 vs. $21,854).
  • Boston College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $4,912 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at BC than at Washington University in St Louis (about $4,912 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at Boston College (49% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 16% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($66,080 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. WUSTL Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 50 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at WUSTL (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Washington University in St Louis 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; WUSTL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than WUSTL (12.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 46.7% at WUSTL .

BC vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and WUSTL ? 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than WUSTL graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $82,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $900 lower median loan debt than WUSTL graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,900).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WUSTL graduates ($196 vs. $205).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WUSTL 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.