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Boston College vs Harvard University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 24 applicants admitted to both schools:

0%
100%
Median scholarship: $134,250 Median scholarship: $130,000

Based on 24 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (83 cross-admits)
0% chose BC 100% chose HLS

83 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

BC is #28 · HLS is #2 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares Boston College and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #25 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 168, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Boston College in Newton and Harvard University in Cambridge — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Compare Another Pair

Boston College
vs
Harvard University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric BC HLS
USN Rank #25 #6
LSD Rank #28 (0.027) #2 (21.678)
LSAT 25th 162 171
LSAT Median 168 174
LSAT 75th 169 176
GPA Median 3.83 3.96
Acceptance Rate 8.5% 9.2%
Class Size 219 579
Yield Rate 33.2% 59.2%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric BC HLS
Tuition (In-State) $72,380 $77,100
Tuition (Out-of-State) $72,380 $77,100
Median Grant $24,000 $27,510
% Receiving Grants 89.0% 38.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric BC HLS
BigLaw (501+) 43.7% 51.4%
Judicial Clerkships 9.1% 21.4%
Median Salary (Private) $215,000 -
Employment Rate 94.7% 90.7%
Bar Pass Rate 93.8% 97.9%

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