Old Dominion vs Boston College - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Boston College admits 16.2% of applications, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 6.6% (Boston College) against 1.3% (Old Dominion).
Average aid for an international student is $39,634 (Boston College) and $16,000 (Old Dominion).
The cheaper tuition belongs to Old Dominion: $33,885 against $73,508, or $39,623 less a year.
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 90.4% acceptance). Boston College ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #501-600). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 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 Old Dominion for: lower tuition.
Choose Boston College for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Boston College is more selective (16.19% vs 90.4% acceptance); Boston College has a higher median SAT (1500 vs 1197).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $55K); Boston College has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.8% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $73,508); Boston College offers a larger average aid package ($61,753 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Old Dominion | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 90.4% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 19.9% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1197 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | - |
| Number of applications | 15,100 | 34,779 |
| International students | 1.3% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $37K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 46.3% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 77% | 96% |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $33,885 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $30,437 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 53% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,043 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $50 | - |
| Enrollment | 23,743 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Boston College. Old Dominion accepts 90.4% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Old Dominion or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $33,885 per year at Old Dominion and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Old Dominion or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1197 at Old Dominion and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Boston College?
Boston College ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Old Dominion vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Old Dominion or Boston College?
The average aid package is $30,437 at Old Dominion and $61,753 at Boston College.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern