Is Boston College or Villanova harder to get into?

Boston College is harder to get into than Villanova. Boston College's 16.4% acceptance rate is lower than Villanova's 27.0%.

Which is cheaper, Boston College or Villanova?

Boston College costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Boston College's average net price is $41,704 vs $43,756 at Villanova.

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

Boston College graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $103,937 at Boston College and $100,423 at Villanova.

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

Metric	Boston College	Villanova
Acceptance rate	16.4%	27.0%
SAT mid-50%	1440–1540	1395–1510
ACT mid-50%	33–35	32–34
Cost of attendance	$89,493	$84,793
Avg net price (after aid)	$41,704	$43,756
Undergrad enrollment	10,085	6,938
6-yr graduation rate	90.8%	91.9%
Median earnings (10yr)	$103,937	$100,423
Setting	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Villanova, PA

The Real Differences

Boston College is meaningfully harder to get into. A 10.5-percentage-point gap between 16.4% (Boston College) and 27.0% (Villanova) reflects real selectivity differences. Villanova 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 1510 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.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; Villanova is in Villanova, PA. 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.

Boston College has a more international student body (6.5% non-resident students vs 1.8%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

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. Villanova is 53.8% women, 1.8% international, and 6.7% Asian-American.

Demographic	Boston College	Villanova
Women	52.2%	53.8%
International	6.5%	1.8%
White	56.6%	67.7%
Asian	11.1%	6.7%
Hispanic	13.0%	11.3%
Black	5.3%	6.5%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Boston College vs. Villanova?

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The Verdict

Pick Boston College if

Net price matters: Boston College costs $2,052 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($103,937 vs $100,423)
its Jesuit mission

Pick Villanova if

Your odds are realistic at Villanova (slightly easier admit)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
Augustinian Catholic tradition

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

Villanova University

27.0% accept · Villanova, PA

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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