Boston College (BC) has made notable strides in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, climbing to 36th place for national universities—up one spot from last year. This marks a positive trend for BC, which is working hard to enhance its reputation.
BC shines in several specialty areas. It ranked fifth for “First Year Experience,” sixth for “Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching,” and tenth for “Service Learning.” The school is also recognized for its vibrant learning communities, securing the 15th spot, and its exceptional study abroad program, which landed 17th.
Moreover, BC ranked 54th in terms of “Best Value,” highlighting its dedication to need-blind admissions and support for all domestic undergraduate students. This focus is particularly important as many families are navigating rising tuition costs. However, the shift in U.S. News methodology in 2019 has impacted how private universities are compared to public ones, which now benefit from a larger number of Pell Grant recipients. Before this change, BC consistently ranked around 31st from 2011 to 2018.
When looking at specific colleges within BC, the Connell School of Nursing earned a solid 13th place out of 686 nursing programs. The Carroll School of Management performed well too, ranked 32nd out of 533 business schools and showing strength in finance (6th), accounting (8th), and other business disciplines.
In the broader landscape, Princeton University topped the list, followed by MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. Within Massachusetts, BC tied with Tufts for third place, behind MIT and Harvard, and ahead of other local schools like Boston University and Northeastern University.
These rankings reflect not just numbers but also student experiences. Feedback from BC students often highlights the warm community and strong support from faculty, which significantly contributes to their academic success.
For more detailed insights into college rankings, you can visit the U.S. News website here.
