UChicago vs. BC

Deciding between University of Chicago 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.

University of Chicago
Boston College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • BC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • BC 15,432
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • BC #34
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • BC $70,702
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • BC $70,702
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • BC $18,916
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • BC $32,519
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • BC $56,971
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • BC 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • BC 35,037
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • BC 5,755
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • BC 16.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • BC 43.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • BC 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • BC 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • BC 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • BC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • BC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • BC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • BC 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • BC Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • BC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • BC 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • BC $90,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • BC 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • BC $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • BC $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • BC 46%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • BC 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • BC Medium
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • BC 62%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • BC 10%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • BC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • BC 10%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • BC 3%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • BC 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • BC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • BC 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • BC 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Chicago is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (18,566 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UChicago vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago 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 University of Chicago than BC ($28,060 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 5.9% lower than at University of Chicago ($18,916 vs. $20,109).
  • Boston College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UChicago (about $40 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $70,662.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at BC than at University of Chicago (about $40 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $70,662.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Chicago than at Boston College (47% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($62,300 vs. $56,971).

UChicago vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UChicago 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 UChicago.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 60 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming UChicago students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at BC (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; Boston College 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; Boston College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than UChicago (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 43.5% at BC.

UChicago vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago 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).

  • University of Chicago's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,500 vs. $90,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($14,500 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($149 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UChicago students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 86%)

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.