BC vs. Dickinson College

Deciding between Boston College and Dickinson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston College
Dickinson College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Dickinson College -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Dickinson College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Dickinson College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Dickinson College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Dickinson College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Dickinson College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Dickinson College $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Dickinson College No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Dickinson College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Dickinson College 67%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BC Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BC No
  • Dickinson College No
  • Meal Plan
  • BC Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BC No
  • Dickinson College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BC Yes
  • Dickinson College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston College is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Dickinson College is in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Dickinson College 11:1.

BC vs. Dickinson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Dickinson College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than Dickinson College ($32,519 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson College are 9.6% lower than at Boston College ($17,100 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dickinson College (about $5,052 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,650.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at BC than at Dickinson College (about $5,052 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Boston College (96% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Dickinson College students ($56,971 vs. $44,479).

BC vs. Dickinson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Dickinson College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Dickinson College and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 100 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
  • Incoming BC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Dickinson College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Dickinson College 1310/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Dickinson College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Dickinson College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Dickinson College has a higher acceptance rate (42.1%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 21.1% at Dickinson College.

BC vs. Dickinson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Dickinson College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Dickinson College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $28,900 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Dickinson College graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dickinson College graduates ($196 vs. $217).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dickinson College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.