Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Boston College is a private national university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Boston College is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $93,021 10 years after enrolling, 6th in Massachusetts, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Boston College bachelor students earn 30% more than the national average. Boston College is ranked 8th in Massachusetts.
Boston College’s median net annual cost of $36,599 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Boston College sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Economics, Biology, Poli Sci/Government, Comms & Media Studies, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$36,599
Average years to graduate
4.1
Computer Science
Rank: #115
Economic score: 1.55
Accounting
Rank: #92
Economic score: 1.75
Mathematics
Rank: #57
Economic score: 2.06
Marketing
Rank: #68
Economic score: 2.36
Business Administration
Rank: #210
Economic score: 2.55
Registered Nursing
Rank: #428
Economic score: 2.65
International studies
Rank: #14
Economic score: 3.61
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #10
Economic score: 4.44
English Language & Lit
Rank: #79
Economic score: 4.52
History
Rank: #221
Economic score: 7.75
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Boston College - Business Administration, Social Work, Curriculum and Instruction, Registered Nursing, Theological Studies, Educ. Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Finance
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.15
Accounting
Rank: #39
Economic score: 0.22
History
Rank: #13
Economic score: 0.67
English Language & Lit
Rank: #26
Economic score: 0.78
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #63
Economic score: 1.01
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 94% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Boston College is 22% higher than the state average, and 27% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Boston College, Pell Grant recipients represent 13% of the measured graduating class, 22% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Boston College graduates within 4.1 years.
Boston College is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Boston College’s economic mobility score of 12.39 is calculated by adjusting the 0.61 economic score of lower-income students by the 13% pell grant recipients within the student body. Boston College’s EMS of 12.39 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Boston College pays $36,599 a year, $41,973 less than the $78,572 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $36,599
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Boston College, 39% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $36,599 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 33% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $3,581. This is 21% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$3,579
Pell grants
$5,183
State grants
$1,931
Institutional grants
$46,470
Boston College's very selective admissions are indicated by their 19% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 39,846 applicants, of which 7,587 were admitted and 2,516 enrolled. Boston College doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
96%
83%
Female
52%
59%
First time
90%
59%
In-state
21%
68%
1st generation
13%
35%
White
58%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
11%
15%
Asian
10%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
16%
12%