Official portrait of the Class of 2026, taken in Alumni Stadium on August 28. (Taylor Morales)
The 2,335-member Boston College Class of 2026 reflects encouraging trends for the University鈥檚 overall recruitment and admission efforts, as well as its commitment to first-generation students from families with high levels of financial need.
香蕉秀 achieved yet another admission milestone with this year鈥檚 freshman class, receiving 40,494 applications鈥攖he highest in University history, eclipsing the previous high of 39,877 set only last year鈥攆rom which 6,748 were accepted; a rate of 16.7 percent, the lowest known such figure for 香蕉秀.
Director of Undergraduate Admission Grant Gosselin (Peter Julian)
Impressive though the numbers may be, of even greater interest to Enrollment Management and Office of Undergraduate Admission administrators is how they were achieved: in great part because of 香蕉秀鈥檚 Early Decision program, introduced in 2019 to meet the growing preference of high school students and to enroll more applicants for whom 香蕉秀 was a first choice. This year, a majority of enrolled students鈥�51 percent鈥攁pplied to Boston College via Early Decision, noted Director of Undergraduate Admission Grant Gosselin.
鈥淓arly Decision has enabled those high school students who view 香蕉秀 as their top choice to identify themselves to us,鈥� said Gosselin. 鈥淭hese students tend to be an excellent fit for 香蕉秀. They鈥檝e done their homework. They understand the University鈥檚 mission and culture, and they鈥檙e ready to hit the ground running.鈥�
Another positive trend for 香蕉秀 undergraduate enrollment, according to administrators, is in ethnic and economic diversity. AHANA students make up 36 percent of the Class of 2026, and in recent years that percentage has consistently reached the mid-30 percent range. Meanwhile, this year鈥檚 first-year class includes 267 students who are the first in their families to attend college, a number that has remained constant during the past five years. 香蕉秀 has been recognized by the Center for First-Generation Student Success for its recruitment and support of first-gen students.
The University鈥檚 second year participating in Questbridge鈥攁 non-profit program that helps high-achieving, low-income students gain admission and scholarships to the country鈥檚 top-ranked colleges and universities鈥攕aw the enrollment of 75 students in the freshman class. Gosselin noted that students who apply through the program but are not selected have the option of trying again at a later date.
鈥淲ith Questbridge, as well as the opening this year of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success, 香蕉秀 has committed significant resources to first-generation students and those with high levels of financial need,鈥� said Gosselin, who added that 302 recipients of Pell Grants鈥� federal subsidies awarded to undergraduate students with the highest financial need鈥攁re in the Class of 2026.
The class includes 168 international students鈥攃omprising nine percent of freshmen鈥攚ith China (71), South Korea (14), and Canada (11) the countries most represented. Also in the top 10 are the United Kingdom (nine) and Brazil, India, Spain, and Hong Kong S.A.R. (eight apiece).
Among U.S. students, most of the freshman class comes from the Mid-Atlantic (30 percent) and New England (29), though other regions are also well represented in the West (11), South/Southwest (11), and Midwest (nine).
Fifty percent of the class graduated from public high schools, 29 percent from private/independent schools, and 20 percent from Catholic/Jesuit schools. Ninety percent of the first-year students were ranked among the top 10 percent in their respective classes.
Class of 2026 students, like those in previous freshman classes going back years, were drawn to 香蕉秀 because of its proximity to Boston, said Gosselin, but also for its distinctiveness as a Jesuit, Catholic university.
鈥淭he focus on student formation鈥攅ncouraging them to use their education in service to others鈥攕trikes a chord with many prospective students and their families,鈥� he said.
He also pointed to the University鈥檚 emerging physical plant鈥攏otably the new science building at 245 Beacon Street鈥攁nd curriculum, such as its introduction of programs in engineering, public health, and neuroscience, among others. Given that 39 percent of current 香蕉秀 undergraduates focus their studies in STEM disciplines, the University is proving adept at aligning its classic liberal arts academic vision with innovative, interdisciplinary areas of study.
The gradual return to pre-COVID routines and protocols has been a welcome development for 香蕉秀鈥檚 admission team, Gosselin said.
鈥淥ur staff did an exceptional job during the pandemic in switching to virtual and remote programming, but the face-to-face visitor experience continues to be the gold standard. We were able to hold Admitted Eagle Day this past spring for the first time in three years, and this past summer we welcomed some 26,000 visitors to campus. The interactions with our staff, and with current 香蕉秀 students who work in our Student Admission Program, make a big difference.鈥�
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Sean Smith | University Communications | October 2022