Is Boston College or Lehigh harder to get into?

Boston College is harder to get into than Lehigh. Boston College's 16.4% acceptance rate is lower than Lehigh's 25.9%.

Which is cheaper, Boston College or Lehigh?

Lehigh costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Lehigh's average net price is $36,931 vs $41,704 at Boston College.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Boston College or Lehigh?

Lehigh graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $103,937 at Boston College and $105,584 at Lehigh.

Boston College vs. Lehigh: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Boston College	Lehigh
Acceptance rate	16.4%	25.9%
SAT mid-50%	1440–1540	1370–1500
ACT mid-50%	33–35	31–34
Cost of attendance	$89,493	$80,856
Avg net price (after aid)	$41,704	$36,931
Undergrad enrollment	10,085	5,898
6-yr graduation rate	90.8%	87.9%
Median earnings (10yr)	$103,937	$105,584
Setting	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Real Differences

Boston College is meaningfully harder to get into. A 9.5-percentage-point gap between 16.4% (Boston College) and 25.9% (Lehigh) reflects real selectivity differences. Lehigh is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.

Boston College draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1540 vs 1500 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Boston College is substantially larger with 10,085 undergrads vs 5,898 at Lehigh. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; Lehigh is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Boston College is 52.2% women, 6.5% international, and 11.1% Asian-American. Lehigh is 48.0% women, 6.5% international, and 10.8% Asian-American.

Demographic	Boston College	Lehigh
Women	52.2%	48.0%
International	6.5%	6.5%
White	56.6%	59.7%
Asian	11.1%	10.8%
Hispanic	13.0%	11.1%
Black	5.3%	5.0%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Boston College vs. Lehigh?

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The Verdict

Pick Boston College if

Higher 6-year graduation rate
its Jesuit mission

Pick Lehigh if

Your odds are realistic at Lehigh (slightly easier admit)
Net price matters: Lehigh costs $4,773 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($105,584 vs $103,937)
integrated business and engineering programs

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Boston College

16.4% accept · Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Full profile

Lehigh University

25.9% accept · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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