Emory vs Boston College - 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: Emory admits 10.3%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 16.7% (Emory) against 6.6% (Boston College).
Average aid for an international student is $54,457 (Emory) and $39,634 (Boston College).
The tuition gap is $5,452 a year: $68,056 (Emory) against $73,508.
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
Emory is the more selective of the two (10.29% vs 16.19% acceptance). Emory ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #501-600). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $80K). Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 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 Emory for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Emory is more selective (10.29% vs 16.19% acceptance); Emory has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1500).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $80K); Emory has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.1% vs 90.8%).
Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 vs $73,508); Emory offers a larger average aid package ($67,329 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Emory | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 10.29% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 40.4% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.84 | - |
| Number of applications | 34,614 | 34,779 |
| International students | 16.7% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $120K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 91.1% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 96% |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,056 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,329 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 99.9% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,562 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 15,179 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Emory or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Emory. Emory accepts 10.29% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Emory or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $80K.
How much is tuition at Emory vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,056 per year at Emory and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Emory or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Emory and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Emory or Boston College?
Emory ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Emory vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Emory or Boston College?
The average aid package is $67,329 at Emory and $61,753 at Boston College.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern