Undergraduate Class of 2030 is most selective in Boston College history
Boston College will welcome the most competitive class of undergraduates in University history, reflecting BC’s continued success in attracting outstanding students from the United States and elsewhere in the world.
The Office of Undergraduate Admission reported that the University has offered admission to 12.7 percent of a record 41,898 applicants for the Class of 2030. The number of applicants, surpassing the previous high of 40,477—set four years ago by this year’s graduating class—represents a 5.6 percent increase over last year.
The admitted students come from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 89 countries. Nine percent are international citizens, and 11 percent will be the first in their family to attend college. The gender ratio of 52 percent female to 48 percent male continues recent trends.
Students who were offered admission for the Class of 2030 also represent the strong academic profile of recent classes, with 95 percent ranking within the top 10 percent of their high school class and average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students at 1500 and 34, respectively.
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Grant Gosselin (Lee Pellegrini)
Dean of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid Grant Gosselin said BC’s ability to garner the interest of high-achieving students stems from its propensity to locate the classic Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts tradition in a modern setting.
“Prospective students and their families resonate with BC’s conviction that college is not simply a means to an end,” he explained. “They appreciate that BC values intellectual, personal, and moral development for its own sake, and that a foundation of the BC education is its cura personalis—care of the individual. They are drawn by BC’s deep-seated intention to support student citizenship in the world.”
BC’s commitment to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated need for all domestic students is another attraction for families, said Gosselin, who notes that last year the University raised undergraduate financial aid by 7.5 percent to $190 million. More than 67 percent of Boston College undergraduates receive financial aid.
The financial aid staff has worked diligently to finalize financial aid awards for admitted students, said Gosselin, and will continue to work closely with additional families who will complete their financial aid applications in the weeks ahead.
“The work our Enrollment Analytics colleagues have done has provided us with a sense of confidence that the offers we’ve extended will produce an exceptional entering class. Further, the Office of University Communications has created an impressive portfolio of resources to assist our admitted students in making their decisions. We are deeply grateful to all our campus colleagues as we work together to enroll BC’s Class of 2030.”
This year’s Admitted Eagle Days will be held on April 12 and 19. Throughout the month of April, off-campus admitted student receptions will be held in 17 cities across the country. A series of virtual events will also take place to supplement the University’s in-person programs. Admitted students have until May 1, the Candidate’s Reply Date, to accept their place in the class.
Recent years have seen increased scrutiny of higher education and the value it holds for the emerging generation of young adults, but such examination isn’t uniformly antagonistic, said Gosselin: There is genuine interest in seeing how colleges and universities address compelling issues of the time, notably the artificial intelligence boom.
“Families across the country are increasingly curious, and understandably so, as to what AI means for their student’s career post-graduation prospects,” he explained. “Artificial intelligence is a topic explored throughout Boston College: in classrooms and research labs; among administrators, faculty, and staff; and through the great range of disciplines that make up the liberal arts tradition.
“A liberal arts education helps students navigate ambiguity, use research to draw conclusions, develop effective communication skills, and use an ethical framework to make decisions that impact the world around them. Boston College aims to equip its students with the necessary tools to answer many of the questions AI is raising.”