BC vs. Northeastern

Deciding between Boston College and Northeastern 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
Northeastern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Northeastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Northeastern 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Northeastern $288

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Northeastern 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Northeastern 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

BC vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Northeastern? 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 Northeastern ($32,519 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 3.4% lower than at Northeastern University ($18,916 vs. $19,580).
  • Boston College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $4,540 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at BC than at Northeastern University (about $4,540 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Boston College (66% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 13% larger than aid received by Northeastern University students ($56,971 vs. $50,421).

BC vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is the same as at Northeastern (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Northeastern (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

BC vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Northeastern? 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $21,400 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($196 vs. $288).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 79%)

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.