Boston College vs Northeastern

Boston College and Northeastern University, two prominent institutions in the heart of Boston, offer distinct educational experiences. Boston College, a Jesuit research university, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Northeastern. It excels in liberal arts and sciences, with popular majors including Economics, Biology, and Psychology. Northeastern, known for its experiential learning approach, has a higher acceptance rate and a slightly lower graduation rate. Its strengths lie in engineering, business, and computer science. Both universities attract a diverse student body, with Northeastern having a slightly larger undergraduate population. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two esteemed universities. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Boston College	Northeastern University
Overview
Location	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Boston, Massachusetts
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	95.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Catholic

Admission
Acceptance rate	19.0%	18.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $80 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1420 - 1530	1430 - 1550
ACT range	33 - 34	33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	30.0%	28.0%
Students submitting ACT score	20.0%	14.0%
Total number of applicants	39,846	75,244
Total number of admissions given out	7,587	13,829
Admitted students who chose to enroll	2,516	4,504
Yield rate	33.2%	32.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$76,606	$78,202
Average net price	$30,159	$38,927
Tuition	$60,530	$56,500
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,780 Meal plan: $5,822	Room/dormitory: $9,900 Meal plan: $7,910
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	39.0% Average amount $48,693	80.0% Average amount $36,308
Students receiving federal student loan	33.0% Average amount $3,579	44.0% Average amount $5,154
Students taking out private loans	0.0% Average amount $2,200	5.0% Average amount $28,495

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	9,955 Men 47.1% Women 52.9%	15,747 Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
Graduate students	5,622 Men 42.2% Women 57.8%	12,420 Men 52.1% Women 47.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	12.4%	34.0%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	7,602	10,481
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	New York New Jersey Connecticut California Texas

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Education Public Administration and Social Service Legal Profession	Engineering Computer and Information Science Health Professions Business Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	14:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	90.8%	90.6%
Dropout rate	2.5%	5.1%
Transferred out	6.4%	3.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,012 Year 2: $117,572 Year 3: $142,311 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,514 Year 2: $115,060 Year 3: $137,599 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $114,055 Year 2: $111,435 Year 3: $126,491 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $89,485 Year 2: $93,588 Year 3: $114,789 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $92,426 Year 2: $100,439 Year 3: $112,343 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $89,714 Year 2: $84,100 Year 3: $105,872 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,320 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $94,626 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,748 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $90,750 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,899 Year 2: $69,937 Year 3: $82,416 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,785 Year 2: $69,069 Year 3: $77,978	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $77,157 Year 2: $102,123 Year 3: $124,358 Taxation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $103,863 Year 2: $100,518 Year 3: $122,957 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $113,631 Year 2: $110,878 Year 3: $121,357 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $105,065 Year 2: $101,072 Year 3: $110,392 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $95,288 Year 2: $89,413 Year 3: $108,000 Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $86,867 Year 3: $104,196 Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $100,801 Year 2: $89,415 Year 3: $103,529 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $98,777 Year 2: $86,867 Year 3: $102,904 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $88,529 Year 2: $89,564 Year 3: $99,566 Biotechnology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $79,825 Year 2: $80,556 Year 3: $98,428

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Boston College and Northeastern University?

Boston College (BC) is a Jesuit, Catholic university with a strong emphasis on liberal arts and a traditional campus environment. Northeastern University (NU) is a research university known for its cooperative education (co-op) program, experiential learning, and focus on career preparation. BC offers a more residential, campus-centered experience, while NU is more integrated with the city of Boston and emphasizes real-world work experience.
How do the academic focuses of Boston College and Northeastern University differ?

BC excels in humanities, social sciences, theology, and business. While it has strong science programs, its core identity is rooted in its liberal arts tradition. NU is particularly strong in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), as well as business, health sciences, and design. Its emphasis is on practical application and innovation.
What is the co-op program at Northeastern University, and does Boston College offer something similar?

Northeastern's co-op program is a hallmark of the university. Students alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of full-time, paid work experience in their field of study. Boston College does not have a formal co-op program like Northeastern. However, BC offers extensive internship opportunities, research programs, and service-learning experiences to provide students with practical experience.
How do the campus environments and student life differ between Boston College and Northeastern University?

BC has a more traditional, self-contained campus in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Boston. Student life is heavily influenced by its Jesuit identity, with a strong emphasis on community service and spiritual development. NU's campus is located in the heart of Boston, offering a more urban and integrated experience. Student life is diverse and reflects the university's focus on innovation and global engagement.
Which university is more selective: Boston College or Northeastern University?

Both Boston College and Northeastern University are highly selective. Generally, Northeastern has seen a more rapid increase in selectivity in recent years. It's best to check the most recent acceptance rates for both universities to get the most up-to-date information.
How do the costs of attending Boston College and Northeastern University compare?

The cost of attendance at both Boston College and Northeastern University is comparable, including tuition, fees, room, and board. It's important to check each university's website for the most current tuition and fee schedules. Also, consider that Northeastern's co-op program can help students earn money to offset the cost of attendance.
What types of students typically thrive at Boston College versus Northeastern University?

Students who thrive at BC often appreciate a strong sense of community, a liberal arts education grounded in Jesuit values, and a more traditional college experience. Students who thrive at NU are typically driven, career-focused, enjoy experiential learning, and are comfortable in a fast-paced, urban environment.
What are the strengths of Boston College's alumni network compared to Northeastern University's?

Boston College has a strong and loyal alumni network, particularly in the Northeast, with a significant presence in fields like finance, law, and government. Northeastern's alumni network is rapidly growing and is particularly strong in STEM fields, business, and entrepreneurship, reflecting its focus on innovation and career development. Both networks offer valuable connections and career opportunities for graduates.
How do Boston College and Northeastern University approach research opportunities for undergraduates?

Both universities offer research opportunities for undergraduates. Boston College provides research opportunities across various disciplines, often within specific departments or through faculty-led projects. Northeastern University integrates research into its curriculum, with opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research projects, often related to their co-op experiences. NU also has a strong focus on interdisciplinary research.
What are the popular majors at Boston College and Northeastern University?

Popular majors at Boston College include finance, economics, political science, biology, and communication. At Northeastern University, popular majors include engineering, computer science, business administration, health sciences, and design.

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

Boston College

Samuel Merritt University