About
Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, was founded in 1863, and is one of the 568 private Jesuit institutions that comprise the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The school's undergraduate is ranked among the best in the United States, as well as an active research institution that works closely with the Carnegie Foundation. The school maintains a tradition of excellence in education, which traces its mandate to its Jesuit origins.An example of the school's high standard for education can be seen in the number of Fulbright Scholar's it has produced, ranking eighth among all colleges and universities in the United States. Also notable is the school's architecture, which provides an early glimpse into gothic style for collegiate institutions.
Academics
Boston College offers degrees beginning at the bachelor degree level all the way to the doctoral. Bachelor degree programs offer students an undergraduate education that is comprised of upper and lower division major courses, electives and general education requirements. Students may also pursue minor degrees or double major, both of which require additional courses of study in a secondary field, with a second major requiring much more extensive study in order to complete.
Graduate and doctoral programs have separate requirements for admissions, and provide a more in depth study in a particular area, often allowing students to pursue specialization. Students studying at this level may choose to become involved in research as part of their education. The length of programs may vary, but typically take between one and three years.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Boston College requires students to complete an application that includes the submission of transcripts, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation. The students application will be reviewed by the school, with a decision being made by committee. Once decided, the student will be notified, and if admitted will be provided information in order to begin their enrollment. Graduate level admissions requires students to have earned a lower level degree, to have maintained a certain academic standard, and to have scored highly on graduate level examinations.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Aid is awarded based on need as determined by the applicants information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Aid must be applied for each academic year due to shifting financial circumstances. Students are also required to maintain a minimum GPA in order to continue receiving aid. All aid forms should be completed prior to posted deadlines to ensure timely disbursement of funds.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may give an overview of the applicants Boston College accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at Boston College is around 14,000 students. The enrollment breakdown by academic level is 16% enrolling as graduate students and 68% as undergraduate students.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition is estimated to be around $53,000 per year for in-state and nonresident students
- For part-time students, charges are between $1,800-$2,100 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 55% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 41% | $36,668 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 38% | $3,789 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Boston College may offer services to students including:- Online classes
- Counseling assistance
- Work study style employment
- Helping students find work after graduation
- Day care for children
Graduation Rates
Boston College has a high graduation rate when compared to other similar schools in the area.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 89% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 2% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 0.4% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Teacher Education (Bachelor's) Program
- Counseling Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Graduate Teacher Education Program
- Law Program
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Theology (Ministry) Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Boston College is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-A classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Basketball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Track and Field (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Football (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Sailing
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Boston College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, D, M)
- Biochemistry (B)
- Neuroscience (M)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Finance (B, D, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services (M)
- Operations Management (B)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (D, M)
- Human Resources
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
Education
- Curriculum and Instruction (C, D, M)
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Higher Education Administration (D, M)
- Special Education (C, M)
- Secondary Education (B)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (M)
- History Teacher Education (M)
- Educational Evaluation and Research (D, M)
- Educational Administration (C, M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (M)
- Biology Teacher Education (M)
- Early Childhood Education (M)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (C)
- Chemistry Teacher Education (M)
- French Language Teacher Education (M)
- Physics Teacher Education (M)
- Spanish Language Teacher Education (M)
- Science Teacher
- Latin Teacher Education
English Language and Literature
- English (B, D, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- United States Studies
- Russian Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Linguistics (B, M)
- Italian Language and Literature (B, M)
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- French Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (B)
- Latin Language and Literature (M)
- Comparative Literature
- Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Russian Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B)
- Mental Health Counseling (M)
- Family Practice Nurse (M)
- Geriatric Nurse (M)
- Pediatric Nursing (M)
- Nurse Anesthetist (M)
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse (M)
- Nursing Science (D)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences (M)
- Adult Health Nurse
- Public Health, Community Nurse
- Palliative Care Nursing
History
- History (B, D, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Legal Professions and Studies (M)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, D, M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, D, M)
- Islamic Studies (B)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
- Geology (B, M)
- Geophysics and Seismology (M)
Psychology
- Psychology (B)
- Applied Psychology (B)
- Counseling Psychology (D)
- Developmental And Child Psychology (D, M)
- Social Psychology (M)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (D, M)
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, D, M)
- Political Science (B, D, M)
- Sociology (B, D, M)
Theology and Religious Vocations
- Theology (B, D, M)
- Ministry (M)
- Christian Counseling (M)
- Religious Education (D)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art History (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Fine Arts and Studio Arts (B)
- Film Studies (B)
- Music (B)
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Boston College.
- University of Massachusetts - Boston in Boston, MA (7 miles away)
- Framingham State College in Framingham, MA (14 miles away)
- Salem State College in Salem, MA (18 miles away)
- Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA (26 miles away)
- Worcester State College in Worcester, MA (35 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in Massachusetts
- See all private colleges in Massachusetts
- Find out what other Bible and Christian Colleges are located in Massachusetts
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Boston College for official up-to-date information.