Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
How selective is it?
Boston College is in our Highly Selective tier (~15-30% acceptance). Competitive. Most admitted students are at or above the school's typical academic profile.
Estimates vary widely (~16-26%).
Tiers are broad on purpose. Acceptance rates move every cycle, and many schools are more competitive for specific majors than the school overall, so use this as a starting point for your list, not a prediction.
How to use Boston College in your college list
This is usually a reach or a high-end target. A strong, consistent record in the most rigorous courses available at your school helps, but admission isn't assured at typical-range numbers. Check whether your intended major is more competitive than the school overall.
Building a list across tiers? See all 15 Massachusetts colleges in our finder, or follow our guide to building a list by score and GPA.
What it's known for
Boston College is widely recognized for strengths in the fields below. This reflects peer-assessment rankings and long-standing reputation, not a full list of programs.
Explore related majors: Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship.
Check the current numbers yourself
For Boston College's current test-score and GPA ranges, acceptance rate, and cost, go to the source:
- Find its Common Data Set ↗ Section C has the middle 50% of scores and GPA. Our step-by-step guide shows how to read it.
- College Scorecard ↗ U.S. Department of Education data on cost, graduation, and outcomes.
- Net price calculator ↗ Estimate what your family would actually pay after aid.
- Find the official admissions page ↗ Deadlines, requirements, and how to apply.
Similar colleges to consider
Schools with a similar selectivity, in the same state, or known for the same fields. A balanced list usually mixes a few reaches, several realistic targets, and at least one or two safeties.
- Babson CollegeWellesley, MA · Highly Selective
- University of FloridaGainesville, FL · Highly Selective
- University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · Highly Selective
- University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Highly Selective
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA · Most Selective
- New York UniversityNew York, NY · Most Selective
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Boston College?+
Boston College sits in our "Highly Selective" tier (~15-30% acceptance). Estimates vary widely (~16-26%).
Is Boston College hard to get into?+
Competitive. Most admitted students are at or above the school's typical academic profile. Selectivity varies by major and changes every admissions cycle, so treat the tier as a starting point and check Boston College's own admissions data for the current year.
What is Boston College known for?+
Boston College is widely recognized for strengths in Business, Accounting. This reflects reputation and peer-assessment rankings, not a complete list of programs, so confirm that a specific major is offered and how competitive it is.
How do I find Boston College's current SAT, ACT, and GPA ranges?+
Search "Boston College Common Data Set" and open Section C, which lists the middle 50% of test scores and GPA for the entering class. Our guide "How to Build Your Own College List by Score and GPA" on this site walks through it step by step.
Where is Boston College?+
Boston College is a private institution in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Selectivity tiers and "known for" tags are general guidance compiled from public sources and may be out of date. MajorAtlas isn't affiliated with Boston College. Always confirm details with the school.