Boston College

Getting in is the hard part. Boston College admitted 16.4% of applicants in its most recent reported class, one of the lowest rates in the country. Realistically it is a reach for every applicant, no matter how strong.

Admitted students cluster near the top of the testing range: the middle 50% score 1440–1540 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. Scores at or above that band keep you in contention, but they do not decide it.

The real question is not your odds but your move. That is where Spike comes in: it reads your profile against what Boston College actually rewards, and tells you what to do next.

Check your own numbers against this class →

Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, student formation, and engagement of critical issues.

Students apply to one of four undergraduate divisions and typically declare a major by the end of sophomore year, with exceptions for Nursing and Engineering.

• Morrissey College of Arts & Sciencesarts, humanities, sciences
• Carroll School of Managementbusiness, management
• Lynch School of Education and Human Developmenteducation, human development

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• Testingoptional (2027 cycle)

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The current prompts, straight from the application. These change year to year, so most guides you will find are a cycle behind.

• Strong communities are sustained by traditions. Boston College's annual calendar is marked with both long-standing and newer traditions that help shape our community. Tell us about a meaningful tradition in your family or community. Why is it important to you, and how does it bring people together or strengthen the bonds of those who participate?

  Up to 400 words

• The late BC theology professor, Father Michael Himes, argued that a university is not a place to which you go, but instead, a 'rigorous and sustained conversation about the great questions of human existence, among the widest possible circle of the best possible conversation partners.' Who has been your most meaningful conversation partner, and what profound questions have you considered together?

  Up to 400 words

• In her July 2009 Ted Talk, "The Danger of a Single Story," Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a "single story" through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

  Up to 400 words

• Boston College's Jesuit mission highlights 'the three Be's': be attentive, be reflective, be loving – core to Jesuit education (see A Pocket Guide to Jesuit Education). If you could add a fourth 'Be,' what would it be and why? How would this new value support your personal development and enrich the BC community?

  Up to 400 words

• One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

  Up to 400 words

Every prompt, with how to approach each →

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The sticker price is about $89,493, but that is not what most families pay. After need-based aid, the average net price is $41,704.

Boston College practices need-blind admission and is dedicated to providing need-based financial assistance to meet the full, demonstrated financial need of admitted students.

Ten years after enrolling, graduates earn a median of $103,937.

Verified from bc.edu and the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our call is to live lives of conviction, service, and faith, to stand out like Gasson Hall's tower at night, a light to the world.”

The eagle statue gleams, and Gasson Hall's tower stands as a beacon in the Boston suburb of Chestnut Hill.

Is Boston College test-optional?

For the 2027 application cycle, standardized testing at Boston College is optional.

How hard is it to get into Boston College?

Very hard. Boston College admits 16.4% of applicants, and the middle 50% of admitted students score 1440 to 1540 on the SAT. Treat it as a reach for every applicant.

How much does Boston College cost?

The list price is about $89,493, but the average price families actually pay after aid is $41,704.

Is Boston College worth it?

Graduates earn a median of $103,937 ten years after enrolling, and 91% graduate within six years. Value depends on your aid offer and your goals, which is exactly what Spike helps you weigh.