Boston College Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Boston College was founded in 1863. It’s a private Catholic Jesuit research university that currently has more than 15,000 students enrolled. It is well-respected for its liberal arts programs. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranks it #37 among national universities, #6 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #7 in both Finance and Service Learning.

Total Cost of Attendance

Boston College cost of attendance for the 2024-25 school year was $93,168. This is considerably higher than the average for four-year private institutions in the U.S. of $60,420 per year.

Financial Aid

Just over half of the students (55%) use some form of financial aid to help with Boston College tuition, whether by taking out student loans or receiving grants or scholarships. Boston College is need-blind, which means your ability to pay for college will not impact your application.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

There are two types of student loans: federal and private. At Boston College, 32% of students take out federal student loans. Boston College does not publish data about how many students take out private student loans to protect privacy.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

To attend Boston College for four years, including tuition and fees, books, and room and board, the cost would be $372,672. According to CollegeData.com, it costs about $241,680 on average for four years at a private four-year institution. As you see, Boston College costs about 50% more than the national average for a private education.

Here’s some Massachusetts Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Boston College tuition and fees, plus books and supplies, was $71,952 in 2024-25 vs. the national average of $41,540.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Graduate students at Boston College paid, on average, $37,404 in 2024-25, including fees. This is significantly higher than the average cost for tuition for graduate school at a private institution in the United States, which is $21,730. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Boston College lists its cost per additional credit at $2,406 per credit for extra courses.

Campus Housing Expenses

First-year students at Boston College are required to live on-campus in traditional housing. As sophomores, students can live in traditional rooms or apartment-style housing and choose their roommates. Juniors may live in an off-campus apartment, and seniors have their choice of housing across many options.

Boston College Acceptance Rate

The BC acceptance rate of 16% means that the school can be challenging to get into. It’s considered highly selective, and even well-qualified candidates may have difficulty getting in. Read on to find out what’s required.

Admission Requirements

Here’s what’s needed to apply at Boston College.

Required:

•  High school transcript

•  The School Report and Counselor Recommendation Form

•  Teacher evaluations

•  Personal statement/writing supplement

Recommended:

•  SAT or ACT scores

The deadline for Early Decision I is November 1, with a decision given by December 15. The deadline for Early Decision II is January 2 for the upcoming season, with a decision by February 15. The deadline for Regular Decision is also January 2, and applicants will be given a decision by April 1. You can apply to Boston College here .

SAT and ACT Scores

Submitting ACT or SAT test scores isn’t required for applicants for the current application cycle. However, since they are recommended, here are the test scores at the 25th and 75th percentile for Fall 2023.

Popular Majors at Boston College

Boston College offers more than 100 majors, concentrations, and minors. These are the most popular areas of study.

1. Economics

Economics students often specialize in quantitative economics, learning about economic growth, unemployment, and inflation, different market structures, and macroeconomic models they can use to analyze the national economy. They also develop solid oral and written communication skills.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 274

2. Biology

Biology students get a solid foundation in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, and can choose from a concentration including bioinformatics, cell biology and development, general biology, genetics, microbiology, or physiology and organismal biology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 219

3. Finance

Finance students at the Carroll School of Management will get a solid foundation in finance, as well as learn about accounting, corporate finance, investments, cryptocurrency, financial policy, and more. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 207

4. Communication

A communication degree prepares students for careers in law, business, communication, and more. Courses include public speaking, rhetorical tradition, media ethics, and nonverbal communication.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 144

5. Computer Science

Students in this department are well-prepared for careers in computing, data mining, programming, and more. Coursework includes subjects like robotics, programming, computer security, scientific computation, and database systems.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 136

6. Psychology

The psychology major teaches students to examine human behavior by looking at history, social sciences, cognitive psychology, and civil society influences. Coursework can include such topics as theology, quantitative reasoning, and cultural diversity.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 130

7. Nursing

Nursing students at Boston College get hands-on experience in hospitals, clinics, and community agencies. They also have the opportunity to study abroad to get more experience in an international setting.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 115

8. Management Sciences

Students in this concentration study business analytics and operations management, preparing them for a career in business or pursuing a graduate degree.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 102

9. Political Science

Students in this program can choose a subfield of political science, including: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, or political theory before going on to successful careers in politics, public administration, international service, law, business, or journalism.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 95

10. Neuroscience

The faculty guides students to dive into each of these areas from multiple perspectives: from animal models and computational models to systems and cognitive neuroscience, preparing them for a career in the sciences or further study.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 82

Graduation Rate

Here is the graduation rate for students who started their studies at Boston College in 2017:

•  4 years: 88%

•  6 years: 91%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After graduating, Boston College students earned an average salary of $103,937, which is much higher than the national average for graduates of $68,516.