BC vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Boston College and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than BC ($20,522 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 16.9% lower than at Boston College ($15,714 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 294.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $52,773 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.8% higher at BC than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $33,261 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Boston College (50% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 240.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($56,971 vs. $16,742).

BC vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 80 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming BC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

BC vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $24,700 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $3,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($196 vs. $229).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 68%)

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.