Northwestern 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: 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 (#33 vs #501-600). 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 Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings, lower graduate debt.
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 | Northwestern | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #33 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #31 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 7.69% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 55.3% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 49,474 | 34,779 |
| International students | 11.8% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $89K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $61K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $139K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 95.1% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 96% |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $70,589 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $68,110 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,540 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 23,431 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northwestern or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Northwestern accepts 7.69% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Northwestern or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Northwestern vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,589 per year at Northwestern and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Northwestern and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northwestern or Boston College?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #33 for Northwestern vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northwestern or Boston College?
The average aid package is $68,110 at Northwestern and $61,753 at Boston College.
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