Emory vs. BC

Deciding between Emory University and Boston 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.

Emory University
Boston College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emory Atlanta, GA
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Setting
  • Emory Large Suburban
  • BC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emory 15,175
  • BC 15,432
  • Type
  • Emory Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emory #28
  • BC #34
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emory United Methodist
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Emory Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emory
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • BC $70,702
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • BC $70,702
  • Room & Board
  • Emory $20,220
  • BC $18,916
  • Average Net Price
  • Emory $27,303
  • BC $32,519
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emory $56,319
  • BC $56,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emory 47%
  • BC 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emory 33,450
  • BC 35,037
  • Admitted
  • Emory 3,562
  • BC 5,755
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emory 10.6%
  • BC 16.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Emory 40.4%
  • BC 43.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emory 1510
  • BC 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emory 33
  • BC 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emory 3.8
  • BC 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emory A-
  • BC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emory Elite
  • BC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emory Very High
  • BC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Emory 32/35
  • BC 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emory 1470/1550
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emory Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emory Jan 1, 2027
  • BC Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emory 10:1
  • BC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emory
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emory 90%
  • BC 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emory $81,500
  • BC $90,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emory 80%
  • BC 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emory $17,233
  • BC $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emory $178
  • BC $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emory 39%
  • BC 46%
  • % Women
  • Emory 61%
  • BC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emory Very High
  • BC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Emory No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Emory 41%
  • BC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Emory 19%
  • BC 10%
  • % Black
  • Emory 9%
  • BC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emory 8%
  • BC 10%
  • % Native American
  • Emory 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emory 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emory 3%
  • BC 3%
  • % International
  • Emory 17%
  • BC 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emory 3%
  • BC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emory 15%
  • BC 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emory 64%
  • BC 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Emory based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 15,175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Emory vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emory or BC? 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 Emory University than BC ($27,303 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 6.4% lower than at Emory University ($18,916 vs. $20,220).
  • Boston College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emory (about $6,422 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $64,280.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at BC than at Emory University (about $6,422 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $64,280.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emory University than at Boston College (47% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Emory University students ($56,971 vs. $56,319).

Emory vs. BC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emory University (1510) is 20 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Emory).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emory University 1470/1550; Boston College 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emory University 32/35; Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emory - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emory Jan 1, 2027; BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Emory (3.8).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Emory (10.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.4% at Emory vs. 43.5% at BC.

Emory vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emory and BC? 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 Emory University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Emory graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $81,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emory University graduates have a $1,767 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($17,233 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Emory graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($178 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emory students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 80%)

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.