Boston College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Boston College is a private research college with an acceptance rate of 27%. Considering applying to Boston College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT and GPAs of admitted students.

Why Boston College?

• Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
• Campus Highlights: Located near dozens of other Boston area colleges, Boston College's beautiful campus is distinguished by its attractive Gothic architecture. The Jesuit, Catholic college has a partnership with St. Ignatius Church.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 11:1
• Athletics: The Boston College Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference.
• Highlights: BC's undergraduate business program is strong, and the school was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. The university ranks among the nation's top Catholic universities.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 academic admissions cycle, Boston College had an acceptance rate of 27%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 27 students were admitted, making Boston College's admissions process highly competitive.

​The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Boston College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

One of the country's top Catholic universities, Boston College has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, Boston College, like nearly all highly selective colleges and universities, has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside of Boston College's average range.

To apply, students must use the Common Application or the Questbridge Application and complete the BC writing supplement. Boston College has an Early Decision program that can improve admission chances for students who are sure the university is their top choice school. Students with interests in studio art, music, or theater can use Slide Room to upload files of their visual or performing art to the Common Application. Note that interviews are not part of the Boston College application process.