From 1980 to 1990, Boston College accepted as few as 31% of applicants and as many as 45% of prospective Eagles The average SAT score increased by about 100 points between 1994 and 2003, and the 50th percentile range increased from 1120 to 1270 to 1210 to 1360. The most generous year for acceptance was 1991, when 56% of those who applied were successful Fast-forward to 2022, and the Boston College acceptance rate is just 16% and the average SAT score of those admitted was right around 1500 To get into Boston College today, you don’t quite need a Doug Flutie-level Hail Mary pass, but you do need much stronger credentials than in earlier times.
We will make sure that you are informed about the following subjects because Boston College admissions are getting harder and harder to get each year.
Early Decision I and II
If Boston College is your clear top choice, we strongly encourage you to think about applying through the Early Decision process. We anticipate that your educational background, extracurricular activities, and character traits will be consistent with those of currently enrolled Boston College students.
Both Early Decision options are binding. You must immediately withdraw your applications to other schools if you are admitted to Boston College through the Early Decision process and enroll there instead. Within 10 days of receiving your admissions offer, you must send Boston College an enrollment confirmation fee.
The only difference between Early Decision I and II is the application deadline. You must apply by November 1 for Early Decision I, and you’ll find out our choice by December 15 You must submit your application by January 3 for Early Decision II, and you’ll find out our choice by February 15
You are not allowed to apply to other binding Early Decision programs due to the binding nature of Early Decision. Application to non-restrictive Early Action programs at other institutions is allowed.
As an Early Decision applicant, in addition to submitting the Common Application and required credentials, you must complete and submit the Common Application Early Decision Agreement form. This will be signed by you, your parent/guardian, and your school counselor.
We encourage you to apply through Regular Decision if you do not already have a college in mind as your top choice or if you want to consider various admissions and financial aid offers before deciding on a school.
Most Boston College applicants choose the Regular Decision option, which is a non-binding admissions procedure. You will be informed of our decision if you apply through Regular Decision by April 1st. The deadline for making a choice and confirming your enrollment is May 1.
Regular Decision applicants must submit an application by the priority scholarship deadline of November 1 in order to be considered for our full-tuition, merit-based scholarship through the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program. No separate application is required. Finalists will be informed of their standing and receive an official admissions offer by February 1. By April 1, admission decisions for all other Regular Decision candidates will be available.
If you submit your Regular Decision application early, but later decide that Boston College is your first-choice college, you may convert your application to Early Decision II. Please complete and sign the Common Application Early Decision Agreement form and email it to the Office of Undergraduate Admission by January 6 to make this request.
Is there an advantage/benefit to applying Early Decision?
Yes. Candidates who apply for early decisions come from a much smaller pool of applicants. Boston College received 4,428 Early Decision applications (ED I and II combined) for the 2021–22 admission cycle. 28% of ED applicants were admitted, filling 51% of the Class of 2026 During Regular Decision, the remaining 49% of the class was filled from an applicant pool of nearly 40,500 applications The admit rate for Regular Decision applicants was 15%.
The acceptance rate at Early Decision is greater than at Regular Decision because it draws a smaller but more competitive pool of applicants. You can demonstrate your dedication to enrolling in Boston College by choosing early decision. Additionally, it makes it easier for us to attract students who value the Jesuit and Catholic perspectives on education, spiritual development, and altruism.
What are the possible Early Decision outcomes?
If you choose to submit an Early Decision application to Boston College, you can anticipate receiving one of three decisions: Admit, Defer, or Deny. For additional consideration in our Regular Decision round, highly competitive applicants who were not admitted through Early Decision will be deferred. Admission will not be granted to applicants who would not be competitive in our Regular Decision process. This enables them to concentrate their time and energy on other college options.
What about financial aid?
Boston College promises to meet every admitted student’s entire demonstrated need and is need blind in its admissions process. We are dedicated to bringing in students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Boston College prides itself on being a cost-effective option for families, but we encourage you to use our net price calculators to assess your chances of receiving financial aid and what kind of package you might anticipate receiving if admitted.
We strongly advise using the Early Decision option if Boston College is without a doubt your top choice and you are confident in your family’s ability to cover the full cost of attendance with or without need-based financial aid.
It is likely that our financial aid award will meet your expectations if you have used our net price calculators and determined that Boston College is financially viable. Only in the event that financial concerns prevent enrollment after consulting with our financial aid office can students be released from their Early Decision commitment.
Candidates accepted through the Early Decision process will be given full consideration for one of the 18 merit-based, full-tuition scholarships offered by the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program. Please be aware, though, that there is stiff competition for these scholarships. Candidates should not apply Early Decision if their families will rely on a merit-based scholarship to pay for their college education.
Committed to Affordability
We’re committed to offering need-based financial aid and assisting students in obtaining a range of financial aid to cover their entire, clearly defined financial need.
How do I apply for a Presidential Scholarship?
The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program at Boston College provides 18 academically deserving scholarships to incoming freshmen each year. Candidates for the Presidential Scholarship may apply either early or late as long as they submit their applications by the priority scholarship deadline of November 1st. No additional application materials are required for this scholarship.
The Presidential Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship. Additional scholarship funds would be provided if a student demonstrated need above and beyond tuition, as determined by Boston College’s institutional analysis.
Early in January, the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program finalists will receive word of their standing. In the middle of February, we will pay for these students to travel to Boston College for evaluations and interviews. They will be notified of final decisions shortly thereafter.
Deadline: November 1
For students who consider Boston College to be their top choice, Early Decision I is a binding admissions program.
Notification: By December 15
Early Decision candidates will be informed of their admissions decision by December 15 at the latest.
Deadline: January 3
For students who consider Boston College to be their top choice, Early Decision II is a binding admissions program.
Notification: By February 15
Early Decision applicants will hear by no later than February 15 whether they have been accepted.
Deadline: January 3
Most applicants apply through Regular Decision, which is a non-binding admissions program.
Notification: By April 1
Regular Decision applicants will hear by no later than April 1 whether they have been accepted.
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College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room
FAQ
How likely is it to get accepted after being deferred?
According to the university, about 15% of deferred applicants gain admission in the Regular Decision round Deferral statistics can also be impacted by yearly trends and modifications to the admissions procedure.
What are the chances of getting into Boston College after being deferred?
If you are a typical applicant (1400-1510 SAT, 32-34 ACT) to Boston College who was deferred, you should likewise expect a less than 20% chance of getting admitted Regular Decision
Is deferred better than rejected?
When the college defers a decision, it means that the applicant pool for regular decision will review your application again. Although it might feel like it, a deferral is not a denial and does not imply that there was a problem with your application.
Is Boston College getting harder to get into?
Acceptance Rate for Freshmen at Boston College in 2022 The school received 40,477 applications. The Boston College acceptance rate was 16% for the Class of 2026, three degrees lower than the 19% acceptance rate for the Class of 2025