Admissions · United States
Boston College Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
Boston College reports a 14% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 (fall 2025), from 39,686 applicants. Its Common Data Set for fall 2024 shows 16.2%: 5,632 admitted of 34,779.
Boston College TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (first-year) | TOEFL iBTRecommended minimum 100 on the 0–120 scale, given by BC as 5.0 on the new 1–6 scale; admitted students typically average 5.5 on the new scale. | IELTS AcademicRecommended minimum 7.5 overall |
Full requirements and official sources · Check your TOEFL band with a free mock test
Boston College publishes summary facts for its newest class and one Common Data Set edition, for fall 2024. For fall 2025 (the Class of 2029) BC gives a rounded 14% acceptance rate but no admit count; the fall 2024 Common Data Set gives the full detail. Earlier editions are not posted. Below are both cycles, the early decision, residency, wait-list and transfer figures from the fall 2024 Common Data Set, and the TOEFL and IELTS scores BC recommends.
Figures read from official sources on · LingoLeap Admissions Research
Boston College acceptance rate by year
Boston College acceptance rate by round and applicant group (fall 2024)
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (I and II combined) | Fall 2024 entering class | 33.4% | 1,434 admitted of 4,288 ED applicants source |
| Massachusetts residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 16.6% | 896 admitted of 5,401 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 16.0% | 4,116 admitted of 25,661 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 16.7% | 618 admitted of 3,696 source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2024 entering class | 8.5% | 352 admitted of 4,139 who accepted a place; 7,444 were offered one source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 42.5% | 2,394 enrolled of 5,632 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 27.7% | 410 admitted of 1,480 source |
What the numbers mean
Boston College reports a 14% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, which entered in fall 2025, with 39,686 applicants and 2,479 enrolled students. That 14% is BC's own rounded figure: BC has not published the number admitted for fall 2025, so the rate cannot be checked to one decimal place. The fall 2024 Common Data Set is the latest full edition: 5,632 of 34,779 applicants were admitted (16.2%). Applications rose by about 4,900 between the two cycles.
BC has two binding Early Decision rounds: ED I closes on 1 November with decisions by 15 December, and ED II closes on 2 January with decisions by 15 February. For fall 2024 the Common Data Set combines them: 1,434 of 4,288 ED applicants were admitted (33.4%), and ED admits made up about a quarter of all admits (1,434 of 5,632). The early pool is self-selected, so the higher ED rate should not be read as the effect of applying early.
For fall 2024 international applicants were admitted at 16.7% (618 of 3,696), close to the rates for Massachusetts residents (16.6%) and out-of-state US applicants (16.0%). Of the 4,139 students who accepted a wait-list place, 352 were admitted (8.5%). Transfer applicants were admitted at 27.7% (410 of 1,480).
BC requires the TOEFL iBT (at a test centre or the Home Edition), IELTS or the Duolingo English Test from applicants who are not US citizens, unless they qualify for a waiver: native English speakers, students at a US or English-medium school, or applicants with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 650+ or ACT English 29+. Its recommended minimum scores are IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 and TOEFL iBT 100, which BC gives as 5.0 on the new 1–6 scale; admitted students typically average 5.5 on the new scale. BC does not superscore and does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.
Boston College TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year)
TOEFL iBT: Recommended minimum 100 on the 0–120 scale, given by BC as 5.0 on the new 1–6 scale; admitted students typically average 5.5 on the new scale.
IELTS Academic: Recommended minimum 7.5 overall
Required from non-US citizens (TOEFL iBT at a test centre or Home Edition, IELTS, or Duolingo, with a recommended minimum of 130) unless waived: native English speakers, students at a US or English-medium school, or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 650+ / ACT English 29+. No superscoring and no TOEFL MyBest scores.
Boston College Admission: International applicants · checked 26 October 2026
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FAQ
What is Boston College's acceptance rate?
Boston College reports a 14% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 (fall 2025), from 39,686 applicants; it has not published the number admitted. Its Common Data Set for fall 2024 shows 5,632 admitted of 34,779 applicants, an acceptance rate of 16.2%.
What is Boston College's early decision acceptance rate?
For fall 2024 Boston College admitted 1,434 of 4,288 Early Decision applicants (33.4%), with ED I and ED II combined. BC has not published early decision figures for fall 2025.
What is Boston College's international acceptance rate?
Boston College admitted 618 of 3,696 international first-year applicants for fall 2024 (16.7%), according to its Common Data Set. It has not published a fall 2025 figure.
What is Boston College's transfer acceptance rate?
Boston College admitted 410 of 1,480 transfer applicants for fall 2024 (27.7%); 181 enrolled.
What TOEFL score does Boston College require?
Boston College's recommended minimum is TOEFL iBT 100, which it gives as 5.0 on the new 1–6 scale; admitted students typically average 5.5 on the new scale. A TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score is required from non-US citizens unless waived. BC accepts the TOEFL iBT Home Edition but does not superscore or accept MyBest scores.
What IELTS score does Boston College require?
Boston College's recommended minimum IELTS score is 7.5 overall. It does not publish a minimum for each section.