BC vs. Wellesley

Deciding between Boston College and Wellesley College? 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
Wellesley College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Wellesley #18
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Wellesley -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Wellesley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Wellesley 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Wellesley 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Wellesley A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Wellesley Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Wellesley $92

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Wellesley 2%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Wellesley Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Wellesley No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Wellesley 40%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Wellesley 23%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Wellesley 11%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Wellesley 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Wellesley 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Wellesley? 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 Wellesley College than BC ($22,174 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 10% lower than at Wellesley College ($18,916 vs. $21,024).
  • Boston College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $3,526 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at BC than at Wellesley College (about $3,526 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Boston College (54% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 12.5% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($64,116 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Wellesley Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 20 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Wellesley (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Wellesley College 1460/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Wellesley College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Wellesley - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have the same average high school GPA (3.86) as students at Wellesley (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 47.6% at Wellesley.

BC vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Wellesley? 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $22,800 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $10,100 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($8,900 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($92 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 86%)

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.