Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA 10,085 Undergrads 91.3% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$89,493

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$41,704

After Aid

Median Earnings

$96,145

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$41,704

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$96,145

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate91.3%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.5

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients13.1%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time97.3%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS89.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

16.4%

SAT Avg

1,507

SAT Reading

25th: 71072575th: 760

SAT Math

25th: 73075075th: 780

ACT Composite

25th: 333475th: 35

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$814k

+$347k

+$329k

Median Cost$42k/yr

+$663k

+$197k

+$179k

Full Cost$89k/yr

+$491k

+$25k

+$7k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$42k/yr

119%

Full Cost$89k/yr

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return95%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-38%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$126,461

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

+$409k

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

BachCIP: 2602

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (4yr)

$75,274

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

+$20k

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (4yr)

$83,614

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

+$83k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$18,125

Earnings (4yr)

$123,144

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

+$384k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (2yr)

$51,273

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

-$153k

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

BachCIP: 4228

Median Debt

$17,223

Earnings (4yr)

$76,328

Natl Median: $50,523

Lifetime Value Added

+$28k

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$83,586

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

+$83k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$143,204

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$535k

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$24,035

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$397k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$121,337

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$370k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$18,940

Earnings (4yr)

$70,141

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$20k

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

BachCIP: 5207

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (4yr)

$132,903

Natl Median: $61,027

Lifetime Value Added

+$457k

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

BachCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,765

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$147,746

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$569k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$32,382

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$321k

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

BachCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,190

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1605

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,459

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

$18,997

Earnings (4yr)

$80,073

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

+$56k

Information Science/Studies

BachCIP: 1104

Median Debt

$16,803

Earnings (4yr)

$131,090

Natl Median: $85,294

Lifetime Value Added

+$444k

International/Globalization Studies

BachCIP: 3020

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (4yr)

$91,874

Natl Median: $59,972

Lifetime Value Added

+$146k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

BachCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,984

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

BachCIP: 5213

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$126,475

Natl Median: $86,176

Lifetime Value Added

+$409k

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$106,353

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

+$257k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$111,072

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

+$293k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

$17,200

Earnings (4yr)

$82,861

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

+$78k

Natural Sciences

BachCIP: 3018

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,935

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$97,519

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

+$190k

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$86,537

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

+$106k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$70,033

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$20k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$13,000

Earnings (4yr)

$94,867

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$169k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$84,188

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

+$75k

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1604

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,169

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,366

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

$18,500

Earnings (4yr)

$70,121

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$20k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$18,000

Earnings (4yr)

$61,719

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$85k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Theological and Ministerial Studies

BachCIP: 3906

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,535

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$118,957

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

+$329k

Area Studies

MastCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,936

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

MastCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,830

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$55,000

Earnings (4yr)

$152,252

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

+$617k

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

MastCIP: 5204

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$89,051

Natl Median: $89,051

Lifetime Value Added

+$52k

Chemistry

MastCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $82,937

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

MastCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,499

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Curriculum and Instruction

MastCIP: 1303

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$71,427

Natl Median: $63,399

Lifetime Value Added

-$87k

Economics

MastCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $100,743

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

MastCIP: 1304

Median Debt

$29,642

Earnings (4yr)

$71,676

Natl Median: $71,685

Lifetime Value Added

-$85k

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

MastCIP: 1306

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,232

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

MastCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$40,346

Earnings (4yr)

$64,159

Natl Median: $55,512

Lifetime Value Added

-$151k

Finance and Financial Management Services

MastCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$41,000

Earnings (4yr)

$151,547

Natl Median: $110,694

Lifetime Value Added

+$611k

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

MastCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $79,463

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

MastCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $89,981

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

MastCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$66,787

Natl Median: $55,360

Lifetime Value Added

-$128k

International and Comparative Education

MastCIP: 1307

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,445

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

MastCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,654

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

MastCIP: 5115

Median Debt

$58,845

Earnings (4yr)

$68,060

Natl Median: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

-$116k

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

MastCIP: 3907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,024

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

MastCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$25,194

Natl Median: $60,272

Lifetime Value Added

-$519k

Physics

MastCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $96,478

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

MastCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $78,850

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$63,861

Earnings (4yr)

$117,616

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

+$317k

Research and Experimental Psychology

MastCIP: 4227

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,216

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

MastCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,728

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

MastCIP: 4407

Median Debt

$51,250

Earnings (4yr)

$71,957

Natl Median: $65,123

Lifetime Value Added

-$82k

Sociology

MastCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,330

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$71,459

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

-$87k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

MastCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,033

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$73,791

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

-$66k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$68,576

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$112k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

$30,750

Earnings (4yr)

$73,955

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

-$65k

Telecommunications Management

MastCIP: 5221

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$134,796

Natl Median: $101,928

Lifetime Value Added

+$466k

Theological and Ministerial Studies

MastCIP: 3906

Median Debt

$30,860

Earnings (4yr)

$64,786

Natl Median: $61,300

Lifetime Value Added

-$146k

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General

DocCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,983

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemistry

DocCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$69,338

Natl Median: $115,386

Lifetime Value Added

-$263k

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

DocCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $99,878

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Curriculum and Instruction

DocCIP: 1303

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$76,460

Natl Median: $83,031

Lifetime Value Added

-$208k

Economics

DocCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $135,560

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

DocCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$174,350

Natl Median: $100,573

Lifetime Value Added

+$492k

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

DocCIP: 1306

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $99,550

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

DocCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,831

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

DocCIP: 5208

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $144,778

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

DocCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,550

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

DocCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $89,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

DocCIP: 2615

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $96,176

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

DocCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,449

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

DocCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $130,153

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

DocCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $90,908

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $138,131

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religious Education

DocCIP: 3904

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $83,129

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Research and Experimental Psychology

DocCIP: 4227

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $103,410

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

DocCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,860

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

DocCIP: 4407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $98,285

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

DocCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $88,618

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Theological and Ministerial Studies

DocCIP: 3906

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$69,338

Natl Median: $71,982

Lifetime Value Added

-$263k

Professional Degrees

Law

ProfCIP: 2201

Median Debt

$123,000

Earnings (4yr)

$190,940

Natl Median: $107,773

Lifetime Value Added

+$613k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.