Tulane vs. BC

Deciding between Tulane University of Louisiana 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.

Tulane University of Louisiana
Boston College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tulane New Orleans, LA
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Setting
  • Tulane Large City
  • BC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tulane 13,310
  • BC 15,432
  • Type
  • Tulane Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tulane
  • BC #34
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tulane -
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Tulane Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tulane
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • BC $70,702
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tulane $68,678
  • BC $70,702
  • Room & Board
  • Tulane $18,868
  • BC $18,916
  • Average Net Price
  • Tulane $47,427
  • BC $32,519
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tulane $39,654
  • BC $56,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tulane 60%
  • BC 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tulane 32,609
  • BC 35,037
  • Admitted
  • Tulane 4,559
  • BC 5,755
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tulane 14%
  • BC 16.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Tulane 40.3%
  • BC 43.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tulane 1460
  • BC 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tulane 32
  • BC 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tulane 3.64
  • BC 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tulane A-
  • BC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tulane Exceptional
  • BC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tulane Very High
  • BC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Tulane 31/34
  • BC 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tulane 1400/1520
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tulane Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tulane Jan 15, 2027
  • BC Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tulane 7:1
  • BC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tulane
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tulane -
  • BC 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tulane $74,200
  • BC $90,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tulane 62%
  • BC 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tulane $27,529
  • BC $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tulane $284
  • BC $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tulane 38%
  • BC 46%
  • % Women
  • Tulane 62%
  • BC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tulane Medium
  • BC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Tulane No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Tulane 70%
  • BC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Tulane 3%
  • BC 10%
  • % Black
  • Tulane 9%
  • BC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tulane 6%
  • BC 10%
  • % Native American
  • Tulane 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tulane 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tulane 3%
  • BC 3%
  • % International
  • Tulane 3%
  • BC 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tulane 5%
  • BC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tulane 14%
  • BC 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tulane 80%
  • BC 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tulane University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA 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 Tulane based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 13,310 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tulane University of Louisiana is located in New Orleans, LA (Large City setting); Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting).
  • Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tulane University of Louisiana 7:1; Boston College 10:1.

Tulane vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tulane 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 Tulane ($32,519 vs. $47,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tulane University of Louisiana are 0.3% lower than at Boston College ($18,868 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tulane (about $2,024 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $68,678.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at BC than at Tulane University of Louisiana (about $2,024 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $68,678.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tulane University of Louisiana than at Boston College (60% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 43.7% larger than aid received by Tulane University of Louisiana students ($56,971 vs. $39,654).

Tulane vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tulane 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 Tulane.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 30 points higher than at Tulane (1460).
  • Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Tulane).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tulane University of Louisiana 1400/1520; Boston College 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tulane University of Louisiana 31/34; Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tulane - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tulane Jan 15, 2027; BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Tulane (3.64).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Tulane (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.3% at Tulane vs. 43.5% at BC.

Tulane vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tulane 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).

  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than Tulane graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $74,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,529 lower median loan debt than Tulane graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,529).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tulane graduates ($196 vs. $284).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tulane students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 62%)

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.