Boston College vs Yale - 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: Yale admits 4.7%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
Average aid for an international student is $84,185 (Yale) and $39,634 (Boston College).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Yale starts at $98,900 against $94,048 and ends at $24,547 against $32,295 (Boston College).
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Yale: a midpoint of 1540 against 1500, a difference of 40 points.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 16.19% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #11). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $101K). Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 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.
Choose Yale 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
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 16.19% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1500).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $101K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 90.8%).
Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 vs $73,508); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston College | Yale |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #11 |
| Rank · THE | - | #10 |
| Acceptance rate | 16.19% | 4.7% |
| Yield rate | 42.5% | 68.4% |
| Median SAT | 1500 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,779 | 50,264 |
| International students | 6.6% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $101K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $162K | $194K |
| Graduation rate | 90.8% | 95.7% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 99.4% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $12,975 |
| Tuition · year | $73,508 | $72,500 |
| Avg. aid package | $61,753 | $74,353 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,892 | $22,185 |
| Application fee | - | $80 |
| Enrollment | 14,726 | 15,657 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston College or Yale?
It's harder to get into Yale. Boston College accepts 16.19% of applicants, while Yale accepts 4.7%.
Do Boston College or Yale graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $101K.
How much is tuition at Boston College vs Yale?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,508 per year at Boston College and $72,500 per year at Yale.
What SAT score do you need for Boston College or Yale?
The median admitted SAT score is 1500 at Boston College and 1540 at Yale; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Boston College or Yale?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Boston College vs #11 for Yale.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston College or Yale?
The average aid package is $61,753 at Boston College and $74,353 at Yale.
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