BC vs. Fordham

Deciding between Boston College and Fordham 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
Fordham University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Fordham University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Fordham University 14:1.

BC vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Fordham? 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 Fordham ($32,519 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 21.5% lower than at Fordham University ($18,916 vs. $24,090).
  • Boston College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $5,787 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at BC than at Fordham University (about $5,787 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Boston College (95% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 58.3% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($56,971 vs. $35,988).

BC vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 90 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming BC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

BC vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Fordham? 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $26,700 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($196 vs. $268).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 77%)

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.