Boston College
Home-schooled applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores so their applications can be read in context.
Data sourced from CDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Home-schooled applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores so their applications can be read in context. Boston College admission
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Portfolio
- Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $85. The Common App fee waiver is accepted for U.S. students only. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Early Decision (binding) November 1, Early Decision II (binding) January 4, Regular Decision January 4. Common App requirements grid
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
Not published; Boston College emphasizes class rank/rigor over a released average GPA figure
- 1Finance
- 2Quantitative Economics
- 3Biology
- 4Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- 5Political Science
- 6Psychology
- 7Computer Science
- 8Accounting
- 9Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (other)
- 10Neuroscience
Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Boston College may call a major something slightly different.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $85
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted for U.S. students only
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Portfolios collected through
- SlideRoom
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsBeyond Grades
Sports
Academics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $4,284
- $30,001 – $48,000
- $7,304
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $13,112
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $19,999
- Over $110,000
- $60,308
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Boston College is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100% of demonstrated need, but offers very little separate merit aid (a handful of Presidential Scholars each year) -- most families should plan around the need-based net price calculator rather than a merit award.
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27
‡Boston College admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 29, 2026