Notre Dame vs. BC

Deciding between University of Notre Dame 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.

University of Notre Dame
Boston College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • BC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • BC 15,432
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • BC #34
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • BC $70,702
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • BC $70,702
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • BC $18,916
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • BC $32,519
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • BC $56,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • BC 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • BC 35,037
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • BC 5,755
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • BC 16.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • BC 43.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • BC 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • BC 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • BC 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • BC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • BC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • BC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • BC 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • BC Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • BC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • BC 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • BC $90,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • BC 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • BC $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • BC $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • BC 46%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • BC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • BC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • BC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • BC 10%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • BC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • BC 10%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • BC 3%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • BC 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • BC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • BC 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • BC 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN 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 Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Boston College 10:1.

Notre Dame vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame than BC ($29,300 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Notre Dame are 5.4% lower than at Boston College ($17,900 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Notre Dame (about $5,677 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at BC than at University of Notre Dame (about $5,677 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,025.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at Boston College (61% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 5.6% larger than aid received by University of Notre Dame students ($56,971 vs. $53,971).

Notre Dame vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 20 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at BC (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Boston College 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 43.5% at BC.

Notre Dame vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame 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).

  • University of Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Notre Dame graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $89,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Notre Dame graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Notre Dame graduates ($196 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 90%)

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.