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Boston College

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Chestnut Hill, MA
5.0 5 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

15,432

Location Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Website bc.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Small City
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic

Best Colleges Rank

#34

Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Boston College sits on a 340-acre campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, six miles west of downtown Boston. Founded by Jesuits in 1863, the institution features distinctive Gothic architecture, including its signature Gasson Hall, and maintains its Catholic educational tradition while operating as a modern research university. The private institution maintains competitive admission standards and is particularly recognized for its Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education, and programs in economics and nursing. BC's main campus houses the majority of its undergraduate students across traditional residence halls and suite-style accommodations, while its Newton campus serves first-year students. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Boston College competes in NCAA Division I athletics, with its football and hockey programs having achieved notable success.

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Ratings

BC is rated within the top 8% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Boston College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Best Colleges in the U.S.

#34
Best Private Colleges in the U.S.

#34
Best Colleges in Massachusetts

#7
Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

#7
Best Value Colleges in the U.S.

#59
Best Value Colleges in Massachusetts

#8

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1440/1540
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 33/35

Acceptance Rate

16.4%

Applications Due Jan 1, 2027
Enrollment Rate 43.5%
Application Fee $80

Applicant Competition Very High

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$70,702

Costs for Boston College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$70,702
Books and Supplies		$1,250
Other Fees		$1,302
Room and Board		$18,916
Budget for Other Expenses		$2,300
Total One Year Cost		$94,470

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$90,900 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

91% within 6 years

View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Boston College are Business, Social Sciences, and Communication. 24% of students major in Business, 17% in Social Sciences, and 9% in Communication.