Iowa State vs Boston College - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Iowa State accepts most of the applications it receives (88.7%), while Boston College turns away the overwhelming majority (16.2%).
Real money goes to international students at Boston College ($39,634 on average), while Iowa State stops at $12,582.
On paper the cheaper option is Iowa State: $28,881 against $73,508, which is $44,627 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of Boston College earn noticeably more: $104K against $63K.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Boston College is the more selective of the two (16.19% vs 88.66% acceptance). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 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 Iowa State for: lower tuition.
Choose Boston College for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Boston College is more selective (16.19% vs 88.66% acceptance); Boston College has a higher median SAT (1500 vs 1250).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $63K); Boston College has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.8% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $73,508); Boston College offers a larger average aid package ($61,753 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | - |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 34,779 |
| International students | 3.7% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 96% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 78% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $40 | - |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Boston College. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Iowa State or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Boston College?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $61,753 at Boston College.
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