Boston College admits approximately 15.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 6 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Boston College in the Highly Selective tier, where admission rates fall between 10% and 25%. The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights the stark difference between Boston College's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among private nonprofit universities, Boston College's acceptance rate falls well below average, making it significantly more competitive than most institutions. This level of selectivity means that even academically exceptional students—those with outstanding test scores and strong academic records—face meaningful uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would excel at Boston College do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots. Students considering Boston College should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. Treating Boston College as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy, given that admission depends on factors beyond academic metrics alone.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Boston College typically demonstrate exceptional academic preparation across standardized testing metrics. SAT scores for enrolled students range from 1430 at the 25th percentile to 1540 at the 75th percentile, with a median of 1501. This means most admitted students score between 1430 and 1540, though students with scores outside this range do gain admission in smaller numbers. SAT Math scores range from 720 to 780, while SAT Verbal scores span 710 to 760, indicating strong performance across both quantitative and verbal reasoning. ACT scores range from 33 at the 25th percentile to 34 at the 75th percentile, with a median of 34. The peer median SAT score of 1256 demonstrates that Boston College attracts students scoring 245 points higher than typical four-year institutions, placing admitted students among the most academically prepared college applicants nationally. Students scoring below 1430 on the SAT should expect to be at a competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. If your scores fall within the 1430-1540 range, you are academically competitive for admission, though test scores represent just one component of the holistic review process. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with this range when building their college application strategy.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Boston College enrolls a student population that reflects both academic selectivity and socioeconomic privilege. The institution enrolls 12.7% Pell-eligible students, indicating that roughly 1 in 8 students comes from lower-income families. First-generation college students comprise 13.2% of enrollment, while transfer students represent just 5.4% of the student body. These shares fall well below national averages for four-year institutions, reflecting admission practices that tend to favor students from more advantaged backgrounds. The low transfer enrollment suggests limited opportunities for students seeking to transfer from community colleges or other four-year institutions. Geographic diversity and other demographic characteristics contribute to the overall student composition, though the economic profile indicates that families with higher incomes are significantly overrepresented. First-generation students should understand that 13.2% of enrolled students share their background, providing some community while acknowledging the predominantly continuing-generation environment. Students from lower-income families should consider the 12.7% Pell share when assessing cultural and social fit alongside academic and financial factors.
Given Boston College's 15.7% acceptance rate, most applicants—even academically exceptional ones—will need alternative options. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission, different geographic locations, or better affordability.
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Boston College demonstrates strong retention and completion outcomes once students enroll, with 95.4% of freshmen returning for sophomore year and 91.0% graduating within six years. These rates significantly exceed peer medians of 83.1% for retention and 70% for completion, indicating robust institutional support systems and student success infrastructure. Pell-eligible students graduate at 89.4%, creating a 1.6 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This relatively small gap suggests that lower-income students who gain admission receive adequate support to complete their degrees, though they face slightly greater challenges than their more privileged peers. The high retention rate indicates that students who enroll tend to find the academic and social environment supportive enough to continue their studies. Students who gain admission can expect strong institutional support for degree completion, with nearly all first-year students persisting to their second year. Lower-income students should view the small Pell completion gap as indicating better-than-average institutional support, while recognizing they may face additional challenges in completing their degrees compared to higher-income classmates.
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