Boston College (BC) vs. Northeastern University (NU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go toBCorNortheastern University (NU)?“
Boston College (BC)
Northeastern University (NU)
$49,324
In-state Tuition
$45,530
In-state Tuition
$33,661
Net Price
$28,869
Net Price
9491
Undergraduates
13620
Undergraduates
29
Acceptance Rate
28
Acceptance Rate
Chestnut Hill
City Name
Boston
City Name
Can you get in?
Calculate Your Chances
Can you get in?
Calculate Your Chances
This complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Boston College (BC) and Northeastern University (NU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Boston College (BC) and Northeastern University (NU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Boston College (BC) and Northeastern University (NU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Boston College (BC) | Northeastern University (NU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $49,324 | $45,530 |
| Net Price | $33,661 | $28,869 |
| Average Financial Aid | $38,307 | $33,312 |
| Total Undergraduates | 9491 | 13620 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1260 - 1470 | 1340 - 1510 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29 | 28 |
| Location | 140 Commonwealth Avenue | 360 Huntington Ave |
| City Name | Chestnut Hill | Boston |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Northeastern University (NU) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Chestnut Hill and Boston.BCis in a New England andNortheastern University (NU)is in a New England - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Boston College (BC) or Northeastern University (NU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Northeastern University (NU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Northeastern University (NU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Boston College (BC) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do BC Dorms Compare to housing Options at Northeastern University (NU)?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. BC charges for on-campus living, while Northeastern University (NU) charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
How does BC social life compare to Northeastern University (NU)?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how BC social life differs from Northeastern University (NU).
BCandNortheastern University (NU)student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Boston College (BC), % | Northeastern University (NU),% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 61.71 | 47.870000000000005 |
| Hispanic | 9.68 | 6.890000000000001 |
| Black | 4.04 | 3.6900000000000004 |
| Foreign | 5.96 | 19.900000000000002 |
| Others | 18.6 | 21.6 |
How different is the Boston College (BC) campus compared to Northeastern University (NU) campus?
TheBCcampus is located in Chestnut Hill, MA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000). TheNortheastern University (NU)campus is located in Boston, MA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
BC provides $38,307 whereas Northeastern University (NU) provides an average of $33,312.
How does BC academics compare to Northeastern University (NU)?
When analyzing academics between Boston College (BC) and Northeastern University (NU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | BC | Northeastern University (NU) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 27 | 42 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 72 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 1 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 202 | 214 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 68 | 178 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | 1 |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | 579 |
| Education | 66 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign languages literatures and linguistics | 24 | 19 |
| Family and consumer sciences human sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Legal professions and studies | N/A | N/A |
| English language and literature letters | 88 | 28 |
| Liberal arts and sciences general studies and humanities | N/A | 2 |
| Library science | N/A | N/A |
| Biological and biomedical sciences | 241 | 305 |
| Mathematics and statistics | 67 | 56 |
| Military technologies and applied sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Multi interdisciplinary studies | 72 | N/A |
| Parks recreation leisure and fitness studies | N/A | N/A |
| Philosophy and religious studies | 41 | 8 |
| Theology and religious vocations | 7 | N/A |
| Physical sciences | 44 | 71 |
| Science technologies technicians | N/A | N/A |
| Psychology | 239 | 143 |
| Hmlnd scrt lw enfrcmnt frfghtng and rltd prtctv srvc | 1 | 52 |
| Public administration and social service professions | N/A | 35 |
| Social sciences | 468 | 446 |
| Construction trades | N/A | N/A |
| Mechanic and repair technologies technicians | N/A | N/A |
| Precision production | N/A | N/A |
| Transportation and materials moving | N/A | N/A |
| Visual and performing arts | 39 | 126 |
| Health professions and related programs | 96 | 436 |
| Business management marketing and related support services | 518 | 933 |
Which is better: Boston College (BC) or Northeastern University (NU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between BC and Northeastern University (NU). But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
For more comparisons of Boston College (BC) check these out:
BC vs Tufts University
