Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts · Private · 10,085 undergraduates · bc.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
16%
of 34,779 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1460 to 1520
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$103,880Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Boston College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
16% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$103,880
a year in 2027-28, from a $103,880 sticker price
What to do with your 1500
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1500).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Test-Optional Policy - Admission - Boston College · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan4Early Decision II · January 4, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan4Regular Decision · January 4, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
16%
of applicants were admitted: 5,632 of 34,779 for fall 2024.
Early Decision
Binding. 33% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
7,444 students were offered a spot; 352 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 30% of them sent SAT scores and 15% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1460 to 1520
Reading and Writing 710 to 760
Math 730 to 780
ACT composite 33 to 35
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160095%
- 1200 to 13994.8%
- 1000 to 11990.3%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990.1%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$103,880
a year
- Tuition$78,070
- Fees$1,440
- Food and housing$20,860
- Books and supplies$1,350
- Transportation and other$2,160
Boston College published $96,048 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$7,293
- $30,001 to $48,000$10,451
- $48,001 to $75,000$9,615
- $75,001 to $110,000$23,616
- Over $110,000$61,800
Financial aid
100%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$60,503
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
1.4%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $20,795 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 1-Feb
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Boston University Scholarship (NMSC college-sponsored)
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP credit
Not given
AP scores may still place you into higher courses.
Placement for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Places you into |
|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 Fine Art Elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 Fine Art Elective |
| Art History | 4 | Arts Core/ARTH1101 or ARTH1102 course equivalent |
| Art History | 5 | Arts Core/ARTH1101 and ARTH1102 course equivalent |
| Biology | 4 | 2 Natural Science Core |
| Calculus AB | 4 | Math Core / Math 1100 or Math 1102 course equivalent |
| Calculus BC | 4 | Math Core / Math 1100, Math 1101, Math 1102 or Math 1103 course equivalent |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | Math Core / Math 1100 or Math 1102 course equivalent |
| Chemistry | 4 | 2 Natural Science Core |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 1 Social Science Core |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | Writing Core |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | Literature Core |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 1 Natural Science Core |
| European History | 4 | History Core I and II |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 1 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 1 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 2 Slavic Language Electives and Language Proficiency |
| Latin | 4 | 2 Classical Language Electives and Language Proficiency |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 1 Social Science Core / no placement for ECON1101 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 1 Social Science Core / no placement for ECON1101 |
| Music Theory | 4 | Arts Core |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 1 Natural Science Core |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 1 Natural Science Core |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 1 Natural Science Core |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 1 Natural Science Core |
| Psychology | 4 | 1 Social Science Core. Please consult with the Psychology department to determine how placement toward major is appropriate. |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 1 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | Demonstrates Language Proficiency |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 1 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency |
| Statistics | 5 | Fulfills Business Statistics Requirement for CSOM students beginning with Class of 2024 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 1 Social Science Core |
| United States History | 4 | Units included when students apply for Advanced Standing . No University Core / department placement earned. |
| World History: Modern | 4 | History Core I and II |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
90%
Come back for a second year
96%
Typical earnings
$112,178
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Boston College$124,494
- All colleges$89,628
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 24 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Boston College. The Boston College logo is a trademark of the college.