Is Duke generally more selective than Boston College for undergraduate admission?

Duke is more selective than Boston College for undergraduate admission overall. Duke receives an exceptionally large national and international applicant pool for a relatively small first-year class. Both schools are highly selective, but Duke is typically placed in a more restrictive admissions tier.

The academic expectations at Duke are correspondingly intense: successful applicants commonly present near-top grades in the most demanding courses available at their schools, alongside unusually strong testing when submitted, activities, recommendations, and personal qualities. Boston College also expects excellent academic preparation and a compelling application, particularly because it is a popular private university in the Northeast.

Duke’s applicant pool is also shaped by its broad national profile, major research presence, and strong programs across engineering, natural sciences, public policy, business-related fields, and the liberal arts. Boston College has a distinctive Jesuit, liberal-arts-oriented identity and strong programs in areas such as business, economics, nursing, education, and the humanities, yet it faces less extreme overall competition than Duke.