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Colleges / Boston College

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate17%

BC Tuition Information

In 2022, BC's tuition was $66,410 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 5.5%–from $62,950 the prior year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition does not give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students pay much less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. And, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Boston College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Boston College full-time are awarded $50,976 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $23,075 of debt.

Does Boston College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Boston College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Massachusetts as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a school where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save students a lot of money on the total cost of attending college. Don't forget to check your state's eligibility criteria for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Boston College?

Boston College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or Boston College-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.


Boston College Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Boston College.

Room and Board Costs at Boston College

Room and board at Boston College is $16,120 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining halls.

Board costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Boston College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be other costs associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer ways so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Boston College

The total cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your transportation budget. At Boston College, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area could be costly, but cities may offer more buses, trains or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Boston Collegeis located in a suburb in Massachusetts, near Boston.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to take into account the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


The Full Cost of Attending Boston College


Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for Boston College.

Total Cost of Boston College

What will the cost of attending Boston College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $66,410
Room and Board $16,120
Other expenses $1,900

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $87,600
Off-Campus $69,580

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at Boston College


In 2023, 3,764 of the 9,484 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Boston College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $50,976 a year. Around 46% of Boston College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Boston College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $23,075 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $16,453
State Loans $7,688
Private Loans $29,385
Most Common Loans for Boston College Students
Federal Loans 44%
State loans 0.71%
Private loans 10.7%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Boston College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Boston College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Boston College awarded 3,354 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $159.1 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $10.26 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Boston College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Boston College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Boston College was $50,976 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Boston College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $36,624
Off-Campus $18,604

What will attending Boston College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Boston College's net cost calculator on their website.

Boston College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Boston College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

BC Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Boston College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Boston College's endowment was valued at $3.7 billion in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million.


Learn More About Boston College


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Boston College:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Boston College

BC Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$85,700

In State

$85,700

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$66,410
$66,410
Fees
$1,920
$1,920
Housing
$16,120
$16,120
Books
$1,250
$1,250

BC Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

35%

Average Financial Aid Package

$50,323

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

14,734

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

17%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$68,330

Out-of-State

$68,330

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 1
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