Southern California vs Boston College - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Southern California admits 9.8% of applicants, while Boston College admits 16.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.2% (Southern California) against 6.6% (Boston College).
Average aid for an international student is $39,634 (Boston College) and $25,384 (Southern California).
Ten years on, graduates of Boston College earn noticeably more: $104K against $92K.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 16.19% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #501-600). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $92K). Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Boston College for: higher graduate earnings, higher retention, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 16.19% acceptance); Boston College has a higher median SAT (1500 vs 1495).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $92K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 90.8%).
Southern California has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,687 vs $73,508); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | - |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 34,779 |
| International students | 13.2% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 96% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $85 | - |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Southern California or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $92K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Boston College?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Boston College?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $61,753 at Boston College.
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