Is Boston College test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1500 and hold it if it's under.

What is Boston College's acceptance rate?

16% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 5,755 of 35,037 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 19%, from 29,486 in 2015 to 35,037 in 2024, and Boston College's admit rate went from 29% to 16%.

What ACT score do you need for Boston College?

15% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1460–1520 works out to about 33–34.

Why might Boston College's SAT range look high?

Only 30% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Boston College?

33% of early decision applicants were admitted (1,434 of 4,288), against 16% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Boston College?

352 of the 4,139 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 8.5%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Boston College? (Middle 50%: 1460–1520)

First-year students at Boston College who sent an SAT scored 1460–1520, with a median of 1500 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Boston College admits 16% of applicants and is test optional.

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

Where your score lands at Boston College

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1460–1520, median 1500

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Boston College is for you and whether to send your score.

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Boston College by the numbers

Admit rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460–1520
Median SAT: 1500
About on the ACT: 33–34
Sent an SAT: 30%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Boston College admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Boston College admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 19%, from 29,486 in 2015 to 35,037 in 2024, and Boston College's admit rate went from 29% to 16%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	35,037	5,755	16%
2023	36,069	5,645	16%
2022	40,494	6,748	17%
2021	39,846	7,587	19%
2020	29,382	7,752	26%
2019	35,552	9,679	27%
2018	31,084	8,669	28%
2017	28,454	9,223	32%
2016	28,956	9,017	31%
2015	29,486	8,405	29%

In fall 2024, 2,501 of the 5,755 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Boston College

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1410Far reachHold
1410–1490ReachHold
1500 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Boston College SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	730	760	780
SAT Reading and Writing	710	740	760
SAT total	1460	1500	1520
ACT composite	33	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 30% sent an SAT and 15% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 90%; of new students who reported a rank

Boston College early decision and waitlist

Early decision

1,434 of 4,288 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision33%
All applicants16%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

7,444 applicants were offered a spot, 4,139 took it, and 352 were admitted from it.

8.5%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Boston College cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $41,704; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $103,937; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 10,749

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Boston College

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Boston College Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Boston College admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Boston College website
Boston College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1460–1520, and the median was 1500. At 1500 or higher you're above half of them. Boston College admits 16% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$