BC vs. Duke

Deciding between Boston College and Duke University? 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
Duke University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Duke University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Duke University is in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Duke University 5:1.

BC vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Duke? 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 Duke University than BC ($21,981 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 4.2% lower than at Boston College ($18,128 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Duke (about $1,944 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at BC than at Duke University (about $1,944 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Duke University than at Boston College (43% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 15% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($65,522 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Duke? 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 Duke and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 50 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Duke (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 58.8% at Duke.

BC vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Duke? 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).

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $90,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($7,500 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($77 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke 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.