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College comparison
Boston College vs Notre Dame
A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.
| Metric |  Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA |  Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rateUniversity of Notre Dame is more selective | 16% | 11% |
| SAT (25–75) | 1440–1540 | 1455–1560 |
| ACT (25–75) | — | — |
| Undergrad enrollment | 10,085 | 8,818 |
| Avg net price | $41,704 | $26,780 |
| Median earnings (10 yr)Boston College reports higher median earnings | $103,937 | $99,980 |
| Graduation rate | 91% | 95% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $19,000 |
| Economic mobility | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Test policy | — | — |
| Type | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
Boston College vs Notre Dame: how they compare
Two elite Catholic universities with national reach, diverging in financial value, campus culture, and their relationship to a major city.
By the numbers Boston College (BC) is slightly less selective (16% acceptance vs. 11%) with a marginally lower SAT mid-50% range (1440–1540 vs. 1455–1560). Notre Dame (ND) boasts a higher graduation rate (95% vs. 91%) and a significantly lower average net price ($27k vs. $42k). This drives Notre Dame's superior financial value, yielding 3.7× earnings per dollar of net price versus BC's 2.5×, despite BC's 10-year median earnings being slightly higher ($104k vs. $100k). BC excels in economic mobility (160% rate vs. 90%), indicating a stronger track record of elevating lower-income students into higher earnings brackets. Notre Dame shows slightly more stability in admissions (59% admit-rate volatility vs. 70%) and has a perfect DOE financial health score (3.0/3; BC's is not provided in this set).
Where they overlap Both are pillars of Catholic higher education, offering rigorous academics within a framework of shared values. They foster deeply engaged, residential student communities with strong school spirit and a focus on service. Their outcomes are excellent, placing graduates into high-earning careers.
How they differ The core differences are setting and cultural intensity. BC offers an intimate, beautiful campus that blends with the dynamic, urban environment of Boston, providing access to city internships and a more relaxed social atmosphere. Notre Dame's iconic suburban campus in Indiana is a more self-contained, tradition-steeped community where Catholic identity is often described as more pervasive and the social scene as more structured.
Who each suits Notre Dame suits a student seeking a spirited campus life with strong alumni networks, where tradition and faith are central, and who prioritizes exceptional financial value. Boston College is ideal for a student who wants a tight-knit community *and* immediate access to a major East Coast city, a more relaxed social environment, and a strong focus on socio-economic mobility.
Editorial overview — a qualitative summary of culture and fit, reviewed for accuracy. Not a ranking or a guarantee.
Quick answers
- Is Boston College or University of Notre Dame harder to get into?
- University of Notre Dame is more selective: Boston College's acceptance rate is approximately 16% and University of Notre Dame's is approximately 11% (estimates from public and primary sources).
- What SAT score do you need for Boston College vs University of Notre Dame?
- The middle-50% SAT range is 1440–1540 at Boston College and 1455–1560 at University of Notre Dame. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.
These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.