William & Mary (W&M) vs Boston College
William & Mary and Boston College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, nestled in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Boston College, located in the vibrant city of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, offers a more diverse student body and a wider range of academic programs. Both universities excel in liberal arts and sciences, but William & Mary is known for its strong government and public policy programs, while Boston College is renowned for its business and nursing programs. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Boston College |
![]() William & Mary |
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Overview |
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Location | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Williamsburg, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 93.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 19.0% | 36.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1420 - 1530 | 1360 - 1520 |
ACT range | 33 - 34 | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 30.0% | 51.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 39,846 | 17,475 |
Total number of admissions given out | 7,587 | 6,386 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,516 | 1,684 |
Yield rate | 33.2% | 26.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,606 |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
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Average net price | $30,159 | $18,399 |
Tuition | $60,530 |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,780
Meal plan:
$5,822
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Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $48,693 |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
33.0%
Average amount $3,579 |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $2,200 |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,955
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
Graduate students |
5,622
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 35.2% |
International students | 12.4% | 6.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 7,602 | 4,755 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 90.8% | 91.0% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 2.1% |
Transferred out | 6.4% | 6.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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