Regis College vs Boston College

Regis College and Boston College, both esteemed institutions in the Boston area, offer distinct educational experiences. Regis College, a private Catholic liberal arts college, fosters a close-knit community with a focus on personalized attention and undergraduate research opportunities. Boston College, a private Jesuit research university, boasts a larger student body and a wider range of academic programs, including graduate degrees. While Regis College has a higher acceptance rate, Boston College attracts a more diverse student body. Both institutions offer competitive financial aid packages, but Boston College's graduation rate slightly edges out Regis College's. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which college better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Boston College	Regis College
Overview
Location	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Weston, Massachusetts
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	95.0%	82.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Catholic	Catholic

Admission
Acceptance rate	19.0%	89.1%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $80 Graduate: $75	$75
SAT range	1420 - 1530	N/A
ACT range	33 - 34	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	30.0%
Students submitting ACT score	20.0%
Total number of applicants	39,846	2,678
Total number of admissions given out	7,587	2,385
Admitted students who chose to enroll	2,516	230
Yield rate	33.2%	9.6%
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	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$76,606	$64,974
Average net price	$30,159	$35,775
Tuition	$60,530	$44,809
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,780 Meal plan: $5,822	$16,587
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	39.0% Average amount $48,693	100.0% Average amount $27,287
Students receiving federal student loan	33.0% Average amount $3,579	72.0% Average amount $5,470
Students taking out private loans	0.0% Average amount $2,200	22.0% Average amount $17,773

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	9,955 Men 47.1% Women 52.9%	1,271 Men 18.3% Women 81.7%
Graduate students	5,622 Men 42.2% Women 57.8%	2,328 Men 11.0% Women 89.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	12.4%	0.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	7,602	740
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Mississippi New Hampshire Rhode Island Connecticut New York

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Health Professions Education Public Administration and Social Service Legal Profession	Health Professions Psychology Public Administration and Social Service Education Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio	14:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	90.8%	60.9%
Dropout rate	2.5%	16.9%
Transferred out	6.4%	21.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,012 Year 2: $117,572 Year 3: $142,311 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,514 Year 2: $115,060 Year 3: $137,599 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $114,055 Year 2: $111,435 Year 3: $126,491 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $89,485 Year 2: $93,588 Year 3: $114,789 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $92,426 Year 2: $100,439 Year 3: $112,343 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $89,714 Year 2: $84,100 Year 3: $105,872 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,320 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $94,626 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,748 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $90,750 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,899 Year 2: $69,937 Year 3: $82,416 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,785 Year 2: $69,069 Year 3: $77,978	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $93,043 Year 2: $96,926 Year 3: $102,391 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,218 Year 2: $68,398 Year 3: $78,987 Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,787 Year 2: $37,568 Year 3: $47,582 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $43,030 Year 2: $41,342 Year 3: $43,363 Communication and Media Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $44,362 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: N/A Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $31,839 Year 3: N/A Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,335 Year 2: $21,508 Year 3: N/A Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: N/A Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,817 Year 2: $58,673 Year 3: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference in academic focus between Regis College and Boston College?

Boston College is a large, research-focused university with a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including strong programs in law, business, and theology. Regis College, on the other hand, is a smaller, primarily undergraduate institution with a focus on health sciences, nursing, and liberal arts, emphasizing a more personalized learning experience.
How does the size of the student body compare between Regis College and Boston College?

Boston College has a significantly larger student body, with thousands of undergraduates and graduate students. Regis College has a much smaller student body, fostering a more intimate campus environment and closer relationships between students and faculty.
What are the key differences in campus environment and location?

Boston College boasts a beautiful, historic campus in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Boston, offering a traditional college experience with access to the city. Regis College is located in Weston, also a suburb of Boston, providing a quieter, more residential setting, while still being accessible to the city.
What are the strengths of the academic programs at Regis College?

Regis College excels in health sciences, particularly nursing, and offers strong programs in other areas like education and liberal arts. The smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention from professors and a supportive learning environment.
What are the strengths of the academic programs at Boston College?

Boston College is renowned for its strong programs in law, business, theology, and the humanities. It offers a wide array of academic opportunities, including research opportunities and access to a diverse faculty and student body.
How does the cost of attendance compare between Regis College and Boston College?

The cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room, and board, is generally comparable between the two institutions. However, financial aid packages can vary, so it's important to compare the net cost after considering any grants or scholarships you may receive.
What are the opportunities for student life and extracurricular activities at Boston College?

Boston College offers a vibrant student life with numerous clubs, organizations, Division I athletics, and a strong sense of community. Students have ample opportunities to get involved and pursue their interests.
What are the opportunities for student life and extracurricular activities at Regis College?

Regis College provides a close-knit community with a variety of clubs, organizations, and intramural sports. While the scope is smaller than Boston College, Regis offers a supportive environment where students can easily participate and take on leadership roles.
How does the application process differ between Regis College and Boston College?

Both colleges typically require similar application materials, including transcripts, standardized test scores (though test-optional policies are common), letters of recommendation, and an essay. However, Boston College is generally more selective due to its larger applicant pool.
Which college is better for students seeking a strong focus on health sciences?

Regis College is the stronger choice for students specifically interested in health sciences, particularly nursing, due to its specialized programs and resources in this area.
Which college is better for students seeking a wide range of academic options and research opportunities?

Boston College is the better choice for students seeking a broad range of academic options, extensive research opportunities, and a large university environment.
How does the alumni network differ between Regis College and Boston College?

Boston College has a larger and more extensive alumni network due to its size and long history. Regis College also has a supportive alumni network, though it is smaller in scale.
What is the religious affiliation of each college?

Both Boston College and Regis College have a Catholic affiliation. Boston College is a Jesuit institution, while Regis College is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.
Which college offers a more personalized learning experience?

Regis College generally offers a more personalized learning experience due to its smaller class sizes and emphasis on individual attention from faculty.
How accessible is public transportation from each campus?

Both campuses are accessible by public transportation, though the proximity and frequency of service may vary. Boston College has a direct connection to the MBTA Green Line, while Regis College is accessible via the MBTA Commuter Rail and bus lines.

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