SCU vs. BC

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Boston 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.

Santa Clara University
Boston College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • BC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • BC 15,432
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • BC #34
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • BC $70,702
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • BC $70,702
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • BC $18,916
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • BC $32,519
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • BC $56,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • BC 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • BC 35,037
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • BC 5,755
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • BC 16.4%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • BC 43.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • BC 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • BC 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • BC 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • BC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • BC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • BC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • BC 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • BC Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • BC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • BC 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • BC $90,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • BC 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • BC $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • BC $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • BC 46%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • BC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • BC Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • BC 62%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • BC 10%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • BC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • BC 10%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • BC 3%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • BC 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • BC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • BC 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • BC 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Boston College 10:1.

SCU vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or BC? 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 SCU ($32,519 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 4.9% lower than at Santa Clara University ($18,916 vs. $19,893).
  • Boston College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $9,409 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.4% higher at BC than at Santa Clara University (about $9,409 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Boston College (71% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 100.8% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($56,971 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. BC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 70 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Boston College 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 43.5% at BC.

SCU vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and BC? 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 Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($196 vs. $222).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 84%)

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.