School Overview
Boston College (locally referred to as BC) is a private college owned and operated by the Jesuit sect of the Roman Catholic Church. It is located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College’s main campus in Chestnut Hill is located on 180-acres about 5 miles west of Boston’s city center on a hill with a magnificent view of Chestnut Hill Reservoir. The campus is home to over 120 buildings, some which are examples of the earliest gothic architecture used on a college campus in the United States.The college has a total annual enrollment of approximately 14,000 students–9,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate.
The college was founded in 1863 as a preparatory school in Boston, and then a liberal arts college, leading to its current name, Boston College. Although legally independent and autonomous, Boston College belongs to the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), a consortium of 28 Jesuit higher education institutions located throughout the United States that share resources and support one another.
Boston College On Campus Programs
Through its nine academic schools and colleges Boston College offers a comprehensive selection of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorate degrees in various academic fields, including business, management, education, social work, theology, nursing, healthcare, law and sciences, among others. Academic colleges and schools at Boston College include:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Boston College Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
- Carroll School of Management
- Lynch School of Education
- Connell School of Nursing
- Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
- Boston College Law School
- Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
- Woods College of Advancing Studies
The undergraduate school at Boston College was recently ranked No.31 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The college is one of the top research universities in Massachusetts and is categorized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a university that exhibits “high research activity”. Among research universities in the United States, Boston College was ranked 8th based on the relatively high number of its students (21) who’ve earned Fulbright awards. With an endowment of nearly $2 billion, Boston College is one of the best funded higher education institutions, not only among Jesuit universities but also among all major universities nationwide.
Boston College Online Programs
Boston College Online offers many non-credit, online certificates through their STM Online: Crossroads program. Online Crossroads certificates include:
- Online Certificate in Liturgy
- Certificate of Online Continuing Education
- Online Certificate of Basic Catechesis
- Custom Certificates
- Certificate of Active participation
Athletics
In addition to a top-notch academic curriculum, Boston College also has superb athletics programs. The college student-athletes and athletics teams are collectively known as the Eagles. Not surprisingly, the school mascot is also an Eagle. The college competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sports and belongs to the Atlantic Coast Conference. The college is especially well known for its men’s hockey team which has won 5 national championships.
History
Benedict J. Fenwick, a Jesuit Bishop from the state of Maryland was the first person to envision a “College in the City of Boston” designed and established to educate a new generation of spiritual and civic leaders for his diocese. In 1827 he attempted to make his dream a reality when he launched a school to educate the city’s youth based out of the cathedral’s basement. Due to its distance from mainstream Jesuit populations and criticism from Protestant elites, Benedict Fenwick left Boston and abandoned his fledgling school and instead founded the College of the Holy Cross some 40 miles away in the city of Worcester.
However, Benedict Fenwick’s vision for a Boston-based religious college was carried on by John McElroy, another Jesuit Bishop who also recognized a need for such an institution, specifically among the city’s rapidly growing population of Irish Catholic immigrants. With the blessing and support of the Roman Catholic Church (the Jesuits), McElroy raised enough money by 1857 to purchase the plot of land in South End, Boston, in the state of Massachusetts where the soon to be “Boston College” would be established. With just one schoolhouse and a church located in a separate building, Boston College held its first classes in 1859. However, just two years later, due to the Civil War, disagreements within its Jesuit governance, and problems with finances, Boston College was forced to shut its doors.
Just a few years later, in 1863, the college was reopened in its original location and its charter as a college was officially approved by the state of Massachusetts, making it the first Jesuit college in the city of Boston and the second Jesuit school in Massachusetts. In 1907, BC’s President, Thomas Gasson, decided that the institution’s location in South End, Boston would not accommodate the growth the school was experiencing. In 1908, he purchased another plot of land just six miles to the west of downtown Boston on a hill where the “new” university would be built and stand as a “city upon a hill”, a beacon of Jesuit scholarship to the rest of the world. To this day, the college remains on the same hill in what is now known as the city of Chester Hill.
In 1913 construction of the new university began, but by 1916 the cost of development exceeded the money available to finish the new campus. As a result, Gasson Hall, the campus’ main building remained alone for three years until additional funds could be raised to continue development. By the early 1920s, consistent with its original charter, development of university’s individual academic colleges began, starting with the Boston College Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, followed by the Boston College Law School, the Woods College of Advancing Studies, the Boston College of Graduate School of Social Work, the Carroll School of Management, the Connell School of Nursing, and finally the Lynch School of Education.
In 1926 Boston College became a coeducational institution and opened its doors to both female and male students. Prior to this time the college only admitted male students. Notwithstanding its open door policy to women, the institution did not become entirely coeducational until the early 1970s.
Many of BC’s graduates went on to become successful businessmen and politicians, and for much of the 20th century, alumni of Boston College dominated politics in Massachusetts.
General Information
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Admission Office 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Devlin Hall 208 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3809 (617) 552-3100 (800) 360-2522 Fax: (617) 552-0798 Contact: John Mahoney |
Main Address 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (617) 552-8000 |
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Size Total undergrads: 9,060 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 2,167 Degree-seeking undergrads: 9,060 Graduate enrollment: 4,027 Setting | Degrees offered: Bachelor’s |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $70 Online application fee: $70 |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 26% Percent students who return sophomore year: 96% |
Tuition & Fees
| Estimated Expenses for Academic Year | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| Tuition and fees | $35,674 | $37,950 | $39,130 | $40,542 | +3.61% |
| Books and Supplies | $650 | $750 | $750 | $900 | +20.00% |
| Living Arrangement – On Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $11,060 | $11,610 | $11,840 | $12,082 | +2.04% |
| Other | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,150 | $1,100 | -4.35% |
| Living Arrangement – Off Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $7,700 | $6,850 | $7,250 | $7,600 | +4.83% |
| Other | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,100 | -8.33% |
| Total Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| In-state On Campus | $48,384 | $51,310 | $52,870 | $54,624 | +3.32% |
| In-state Off Campus | $45,024 | $46,750 | $48,330 | $50,142 | +3.75% |
| In-state with Family | $36,324 | $38,700 | $39,880 | $41,442 | +3.92% |
| Average Graduate Student Tuition & Fees | |
| Tuition for In-state Students | $21,708 |
| In-state Student Fees | $90 |
| Tuition for Out-of-state Students | $21,708 |
| Out-of-state Fees | $90 |
Financial Aid
| Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students | ||||
| Type of Aid | Students | Percent | Amount | Average Per Student |
| All students financial aid | 1,250 | 55% | ||
| Grant or scholarship aid | 894 | 39% | $25,709,133 | $28,757 |
| • Federal grants | 240 | 11% | $1,611,362 | $6,714 |
| • Pell grants | 224 | 10% | $817,875 | $3,651 |
| • Other federal grants | 236 | 10% | $793,487 | $3,362 |
| State/local government grant or scholarships | 126 | 6% | $321,631 | $2,553 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 886 | 39% | $23,776,140 | $26,835 |
| Student loan aid | 882 | 39% | $3,338,244 | $3,785 |
| • Federal student loans | 880 | 39% | $3,297,744 | $3,747 |
| • Other student loans | 12 | 1% | $40,500 | $3,375 |
All Degrees and Programs
| Program Completions for Most Recent Year | BA/BS | MA/MS | Doctor | AA/AS | CERT |
| Total of All Education Programs | 3003 | 1368 | 401 | – | 14 |
| Biology and Biomedical Sciences | 185 | 1 | 6 | – | – |
| Biochemistry | 24 | – | – | – | – |
| Biology and Biological Sciences, General | 161 | 1 | 6 | – | – |
| Business, Administration, Management, Marketing, etc. | 679 | 466 | 5 | – | – |
| Accounting | 147 | 76 | – | – | – |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Business Administration and Management | 11 | 246 | – | – | – |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 60 | – | – | – | – |
| Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, Other | – | 55 | – | – | – |
| Finance | 271 | 84 | 3 | – | – |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration | 18 | – | – | – | – |
| Marketing/Marketing Management | 157 | – | – | – | – |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | – | 5 | 2 | – | – |
| Communication and Journalism Programs | 264 | – | – | – | – |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 264 | – | – | – | – |
| Computing and Information Sciences | 65 | – | – | – | – |
| Computer Science | 19 | – | – | – | – |
| Information Science/Studies | 46 | – | – | – | – |
| Education | 104 | 261 | 27 | – | 14 |
| Biology Teacher Education | – | 6 | – | – | – |
| Chemistry Teacher Education | – | 2 | – | – | – |
| Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services | – | 19 | – | – | – |
| Curriculum and Instruction | – | 41 | 11 | – | 2 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 11 | 6 | – | – | – |
| Education, Other | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other | – | 6 | 4 | – | – |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | – | 18 | 5 | – | 8 |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 50 | 23 | – | – | – |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | – | 14 | – | – | – |
| French Language Teacher Education | – | – | – | – | – |
| Higher Education/Higher Education Administration | – | 49 | 6 | – | 1 |
| History Teacher Education | – | 16 | – | – | – |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 5 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Multicultural Education | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Physics Teacher Education | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reading Teacher Education | – | 10 | – | – | – |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Secondary Education and Teaching | 35 | – | – | – | – |
| Spanish Language Teacher Education | – | – | – | – | – |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other | – | 42 | – | – | 1 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other | – | 5 | – | – | 2 |
| English Language, Composition and Literature/Letters | 208 | 30 | 3 | – | – |
| English Language and Literature | 208 | 30 | 3 | – | – |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 81 | 12 | – | – | – |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 6 | 2 | – | – | – |
| French Language and Literature | 18 | 4 | – | – | – |
| German Language and Literature | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Italian Language and Literature | 4 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Latin Language and Literature | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Linguistics | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 40 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Health Services and Allied Health Sciences | 107 | 103 | 10 | – | – |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | – | 17 | – | – | – |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | – | 22 | – | – | – |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Nurse Anesthetist | – | 14 | – | – | – |
| Nursing Science | – | – | 10 | – | – |
| Palliative Care Nursing | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Pediatric Nurse/Nursing | – | 25 | – | – | – |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | – | 8 | – | – | – |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 107 | – | – | – | – |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | – | 9 | – | – | – |
| History | 194 | 23 | 4 | – | – |
| History | 194 | 23 | 4 | – | – |
| Human Services | – | 220 | 7 | – | – |
| Social Work | – | 220 | 7 | – | – |
| Legal and Law Studies | – | 11 | 265 | – | – |
| Law | – | – | 265 | – | – |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | – | 11 | – | – | – |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 46 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Mathematics | 46 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 71 | – | 1 | – | – |
| International/Global Studies | 70 | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 | – | 1 | – | – |
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Environmental Science | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Physical Sciences | 46 | 16 | 23 | – | – |
| Chemistry | 26 | 5 | 13 | – | – |
| Geology and Earth Science | 3 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Physics | 16 | 7 | 10 | – | – |
| Psychology | 309 | 75 | 15 | – | – |
| Community Psychology | 126 | – | – | – | – |
| Counseling Psychology | – | 51 | 6 | – | – |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | – | 18 | 3 | – | – |
| Psychology | 183 | 6 | 6 | – | – |
| Social Sciences | 508 | 32 | 18 | – | – |
| Economics | 253 | 17 | 12 | – | – |
| Political Science and Government | 147 | 7 | 1 | – | – |
| Social Sciences, Other | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| Sociology | 99 | 8 | 5 | – | – |
| Theology and Religious Vocations | 41 | 114 | 17 | – | – |
| Divinity/Ministry | – | 12 | – | – | – |
| Pastoral Studies/Counseling | – | 46 | – | – | – |
| Religious Education | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Theology/Theological Studies | 41 | 56 | 16 | – | – |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 83 | – | – | – | – |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 16 | – | – | – | – |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theater Arts | 27 | – | – | – | – |
| Film/Cinema/Video Studies | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Music | 17 | – | – | – | – |
Undergraduate Majors
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies * Hispanic-American Studies B Arts, Visual & Performing * Art History/Criticism/Conservation B Biological & Biomedical Sciences * Biochemistry B Business, Management, & Marketing * Accounting B Communications & Journalism * Communications/Rhetoric B Computer & Information Sciences * Computer Science B Education * Early Childhood Education B English Language & Literature * English Language & Literature – General B Foreign Language & Literature * Classics B Health Professions & Clinical Sciences * Nursing (RN) B History * History – General B Mathematics * Mathematics – General B Philosophy & Religion * Philosophy B Physical Sciences * Chemistry B Psychology * Psychology – General B Social Sciences * Economics B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
Boston College Highlights
School Information
| Phone Number: | (617) 552-8000 |
| Website: | www.bc.edu |
| Type of School: | 4-year, Private non-profit |
| Apply Online: | www.commonapp.org |
| Address: | 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 |
| Setting: | Not available |
| Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
| Student Population: | 14,466 |
| 6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 91% |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 14 to 1 |
| Distance Learning Programs: | Yes |
| Distance Learning Students*: | 14,228 (98% of total students) |
| Degree Levels Offered: | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
| In-state Tuition: | $51,296 |
| Out-of-state Tuition: | $51,296 |
| % of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 53% |
| Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $38,399 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students
Boston College Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at Boston College.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies | 2 | ||||
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 9 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 1 | ||||
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 2 | ||||
| Education | 7 | 6 | 20 | 5 | |
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 8 | 6 | 3 | ||
| Health Professions and Related Programs | 1 | 9 | 1 | ||
| History | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Service | 1 | ||||
| Legal Professions and Studies | 1 | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 2 | 1 | |||
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 1 | ||||
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Physical Sciences | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| Psychology | 2 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions | 1 | 1 | |||
| Social Sciences | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Theology and Religious Vocations | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| Visual and Performing Arts | 5 | ||||
| Grand total | 7 | 55 | 64 | 29 |
* Based on programs that produced 2016-2017 graduates
Online Programs & Distance Learning
See the distance education degree programs that are offered at Boston College.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|
* Based on programs that produced 2016-2017 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at Boston College and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2016-2017 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $51,296 |
| Out-of-state | $51,296 |
| Books and supplies | $1,250 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2016-2017 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $27,306 |
| Out-of-state | $27,306 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2015-2016
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any student financial aid | 1,229 | 53% | – |
| Grant or scholarship aid | 956 | 41% | $38,399 |
| Student loan aid | 871 | 38% | $4,027 |
All Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid | 4,295 | 44% | $35,919 |
| Federal student loans | 3,464 | 36% | $4,347 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for Boston College. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled Boston College students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2017
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 28,956 | 12,218 | 16,738 | Percent admitted | 100% | 33% | 30% |
| Percent admitted who enrolled | 8% | 9% | 8% |
Admissions Considerations
| Required | Recommended | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | |||
| Secondary school rank | |||
| Secondary school record | |||
| Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
| Recommendations | |||
| Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
| Admission test scores | |||
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Boston College Enrollment, Fall 2017
| Total Enrollment | 14,466 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,870 |
| Graduate enrollment | 4,596 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Boston College Accreditation
This institution is accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Specialized institution accreditations:
- American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
- Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation
- Counseling Psychology (COPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
- Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
- Theology (THEOL) - Freestanding schools, as well as programs affiliated with larger institutions, offering graduate professional education for ministry and graduate study of theology
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
- Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
- Nurse Anesthesia (ANEST) - Institutions and programs at the master's degree, post master's certificate or doctoral degree levels
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
If you work for a school and would like to update your data please contact us.
