Is Boston College or Colgate harder to get into?

Boston College is typically viewed as slightly harder to get into overall, though the gap is not huge and both schools are very selective.

That said, the kind of student each school attracts matters. Boston College often appeals to students who want a midsize university with strong pre-professional options, Division I sports energy, and a suburban Boston location with access to the city. Because it combines a liberal arts core with university resources and a very recognizable national brand, it gets a lot of applications from students aiming for that specific mix.

Colgate tends to attract students who want a more residential, classic liberal arts experience in a small-town setting. Its applicant pool is still extremely strong, and for students seeking close faculty interaction, a traditional campus community, and a more intimate academic environment, it can be just as tough in practice because the school is small and has limited space.

So if you are asking for the simplest direct comparison, Boston College is usually considered a bit more difficult to access overall. But for building your list, it makes more sense to treat both as reach-level or at least highly selective options unless your academic profile is clearly above each school’s typical admitted range.