Boston College vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Northwestern admits 7.7%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Northwestern: 11.8% of students against 6.6% (Boston College).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Northwestern awards international students $74,103 on average, Boston College awards $39,634.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Northwestern starts at $96,182 against $94,048 and ends at $28,072 against $32,295 (Boston College).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 16.19% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #33). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $89K). Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 vs $73,508 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 16.19% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1500).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 90.8%).
Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 vs $73,508); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston College | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 16.19% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 42.5% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1500 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,779 | 49,474 |
| International students | 6.6% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $162K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 90.8% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 98% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,508 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $61,753 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,892 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 14,726 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston College or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Boston College accepts 16.19% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Boston College or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Boston College vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,508 per year at Boston College and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Boston College or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1500 at Boston College and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Boston College or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Boston College vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston College or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $61,753 at Boston College and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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