Yale 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: Yale admits 4.7%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
Average aid for an international student is $84,185 (Yale) and $39,634 (Boston College).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Yale starts at $98,900 against $94,048 and ends at $24,547 against $32,295 (Boston College).
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Yale: a midpoint of 1540 against 1500, a difference of 40 points.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 16.19% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #501-600). Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $101K). Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 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 Yale 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
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 16.19% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1500).
Boston College graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $101K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 90.8%).
Yale has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,500 vs $73,508); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Yale | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 34,779 |
| International students | 10.6% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 96% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $80 | - |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Yale or Boston College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $101K.
How much is tuition at Yale vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or Boston College?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or Boston College?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $61,753 at Boston College.
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