More selective than 87% of Massachusetts colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
28% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 16% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Boston College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
Boston College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Boston College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 710 | 760 |
| SAT math | 730 | 780 |
| ACT composite | 33 | 35 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1440 | 1540 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Boston College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 16% | 710–760 | 730–780 | 33–35 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 16% | 710–760 | 720–780 | 33–34 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Boston College compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Boston College has the 9th-lowest acceptance rate of 62 Massachusetts colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Amherst College | 9% | 94% | $23,367 |
| 6 | Boston University | 11% | 89% | $24,402 |
| 7 | Tufts University | 11% | 94% | $39,998 |
| 8 | Wellesley College | 14% | 92% | $25,496 |
| 9 | Boston College | 16% | 91% | $41,704 |
| 10 | Babson College | 17% | 93% | $40,514 |
| 11 | College of the Holy Cross | 18% | 87% | $38,782 |
| 12 | Smith College | 21% | 89% | $27,579 |
| 13 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | 25% | 96% | $25,171 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Massachusetts colleges →
Who enrolls at Boston College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Boston College admissions questions
What is the Boston College acceptance rate?
Boston College accepts 16% of applicants, about 1 in 6. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 5,645 of 36,069 applicants were admitted.
Does Boston College require the SAT or ACT?
Boston College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 28% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Boston College?
The middle 50% of Boston College enrolled first-year students scored 1440–1540 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Boston College?
41% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,335 of 5,645).
Is Boston College getting harder to get into?
Boston College accepted 16% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 16% for Fall 2023.
Is Boston College the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Boston College with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Boston College overview