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Boston College

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Boston College campus
Boston College, founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), is one of the nation's foremost universities, with an enrollment of 9,532 undergraduate from all 50 states and nearly 70 countries. BC has four undergraduate divisions in arts and sciences, management, education and human development, and nursing. Faculty members are committed to both teaching and research and have been honored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education and the MacArthur Foundation. BC’s campus, located 6 miles from downtown Boston, offers a traditional residential experience, 31 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I sports, and 300 clubs and organizations.
Accepts first-year applicationsNew EnglandPrivateSuburbanMedium (2,001 to 14,999)Co-Ed
Virtual Tour

Academic programs

  • Engineering
  • Research
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Nursing
  • Communication
  • Music
  • Economics
  • Finance/Accounting
  • Government/Political Science
  • Health Science
  • Performing Arts
  • Social Science
  • Visual Arts

Student experience

  • Athletics
  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Disability Services
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • Military/Veteran Services
  • On-Campus Housing
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ROTC Program
  • Study Abroad
  • Undergraduate Research

Application information

First-year

A first-year applicant is a student who will graduate from high school in the 2024-25 academic year. A first-year applicant may also be a student who graduated from high school but has not earned more than eight college/university credits. We review each application with a level of thoroughness and thoughtfulness that reflects the time and effort you have invested in Boston College. In making admission decisions, we consider course selection, performance assessment, standardized test scores (optional for the 2024-25 cycle), application essays, extracurricular activities, and recommendations.

Transfer

The Boston College community welcomes transfer students. A transfer applicant must complete a minimum of nine college or university credits post-secondary education and prior to the admission deadline for the semester they wish to apply. Primary emphasis is placed on the college record. However, the high school record, SAT and/or ACT test scores (optional for the 2024-25), essays, recommendations, activities, and work experience are also critical components of the application. In recent years, students most successful in the transfer admission process had very strong records from both high school and college.

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Additional information

Boston College practices need-blind admission, which means students are admitted based on their academic and personal accomplishments. Financial circumstances are not factored into the decision process.  

In addition, Boston College is dedicated to providing need-based financial assistance and helping students obtain a variety of aid to meet their full, demonstrated financial need. Please note the university is unable to offer need-based financial aid to international students.

Each year, Boston College awards eighteen academic merit-based full tuition scholarships to incoming freshmen through the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program. Both Early Decision and Regular Decision candidates are eligible for Presidential Scholarship consideration as long as they meet the November 1 priority scholarship deadline. No additional application materials are required for this scholarship.

Visit us

The core of our Eagle Eye Campus Visit is a candid conversation with current students—an opportunity to ask them about classes, housing, Boston, service learning, and more. Whether the visit is virtual or in person, our students aim to address your specific questions and allow you to experience a day in the life of a student. For further details, please visit http://www.bc.edu/visit

“We seek students who are bright, curious, passionate, and engaged. As a Jesuit university, Boston College emphasizes liberal arts education, character development, and the cultivation of leaders. Our mission is to graduate men and women who know how to think, make decisions, communicate, and act with integrity.”