- Acceptance rate: 16% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 710–760 reading and writing, 730–780 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 33–35 composite
- Average net price: $32,590 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Boston College reported: an acceptance rate of 16% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 33–35.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Boston College reviews each application.
Boston College GPA requirements
Boston College doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Boston College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Boston College acceptance rate
Boston College admitted 5,755 of 35,037 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 16%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Boston College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, with 10,314 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Boston College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 710 | 740 | 760 |
| SAT Math | 730 | 760 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT English | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 30 | 32 | 34 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1507 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Boston College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
AP credit
Boston College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $32,590 a year at Boston College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get into Boston College with a 3.5 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Boston College admitted 16% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What SAT and ACT scores do Boston College students have?
The middle 50% of Boston College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 710–760 in reading and writing and 730–780 in math; ACT composite 33–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is Boston College test optional?
Check Boston College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Boston College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 30% sent SAT scores and 15% sent ACT scores.
What GPA do you need to get into Boston College?
Boston College doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How important is GPA for getting into Boston College?
It's one factor among several: Boston College requires high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is Boston College hard to get into?
Yes. Fewer than 1 in 4 applicants got in, so it's highly selective. Boston College admitted 16% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into Boston College?
Boston College's acceptance rate was 16% for fall 2024: it admitted 5,755 of 35,037 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Does Boston College look at legacy status?
Yes. Boston College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Boston College give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Boston College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
How much does Boston College cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $32,590 a year at Boston College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Boston College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Boston CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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