Location
- Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, MA
- Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
Boston College vs Northwestern University
Chestnut Hill, MA · Evanston, IL · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:IL
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-PAR · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × IL
- ACCEPT-PAR Admission near-par
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Net-price paths do not share a shape
NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023
One school has a directional average-net-price path over 2013–2023; the other sits in a measured range (or the two move opposite ways). Cost gaps on this board are moving targets.
- Boston College: average net price rose +20.6% from $33,070 (2013) to $39,866 (2023), r² 0.88.
- Northwestern University: net price ranged $23,279–$28,544 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -4.9% is not a trend (r² 0.16).
- Boston College: acceptance rate tightened -51.4% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.82).
- Northwestern University: acceptance rate tightened -53.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.86).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Boston College
- 10,085
- Northwestern University
- 9,201
Acceptance Rate
- Boston College
- 16.4%
Avg Net Price
- Boston College
- $41,704
- Northwestern University
- $29,167
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston College
- $19,000
- Northwestern University
- $15,000
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston College
- $103,937
- Northwestern University
- $89,363
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston College
- $85,717
- Northwestern University
- $76,844
150%-Time Completion
- Boston College
- 90.9%
- Northwestern University
- 95.5%
In-State Tuition
- Boston College
- $70,702
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
Out-of-State Tuition
- Boston College
- $70,702
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Chestnut Hill, MA | Evanston, IL |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 10,085 | 9,201 |
| Acceptance Rate | 16.4% | 7.7% |
| Avg Net Price | $41,704 | $29,167 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,000 | $15,000 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $103,937 | $89,363 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $85,717 | $76,844 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 90.9% | 95.5% |
| In-State Tuition | $70,702 | $68,322 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $70,702 | $68,322 |
Largest gaps: Boston College vs Northwestern University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Northwestern University leads on acceptance rate (7.7% vs 16.4% at Boston College)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Northwestern University leads on avg net price ($29,167 vs $41,704 at Boston College)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Northwestern University leads on median debt at graduation ($15,000 vs $19,000 at Boston College)
Boston College profile · Northwestern University profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston College and Northwestern University?▼
Northwestern University leads on acceptance rate at 7.7% versus 16.4% at Boston College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Boston College and Northwestern University?▼
Northwestern University leads on avg net price at $29,167 versus $41,704 at Boston College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Boston College and Northwestern University?▼
Northwestern University leads on median debt at graduation at $15,000 versus $19,000 at Boston College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025