Over the last several years, Boston College has significantly changed its Early admissions policy not once but twice.

In 2018, the Jesuit institution eased its Early Action restriction by allowing EA applicants to apply to other schools with binding Early Decision policies. 

And in 2019, BC introduced its own Early Decision I and Early Decision II programs, eliminating its preexisting Early Action policy.

So what’s happened in the years since BC’s tectonic shifts concerning its Early policy?

Does Boston College Have Early Action?

No, at present, BC offers two rounds of Early Decision. For Early Decision I, students must apply by November 1. They learn of their decisions by December 15. For Early Decision II, students must apply by January 3. They learn of their decisions by February 15. Under both policies, students are bound to attend if offered admission.

Boston College’s Classes of 2028-2024 Early Decision Statistics

For the BC Class of 2028, 2,808 students applied under the school’s binding Early Decision I policy. Of these students, 960 earned admission, marking an ED I admission rate of 34.19%. In Early Decision II, 1,493 students applied and 415 got in, marking an ED II admission rate of 27.8%.

For the BC Class of 2027, 4,433 students applied under the school’s binding Early Decision I policy (the exact figure as last year). Of these students, 1,330 earned admission, marking an ED I admission rate of 30%.

For the BC Class of 2026, 4,443 students applied Early Decision I. Of these students, 1,250 earned admission, marking an ED I admission rate of 28%.

For the BC Class of 2025, BC cited receiving over 1,950 Early Decision 1 applications, offering admission to 41% of students.

For the BC Class of 2024, BC reported its Early Decision application tally — 2,750 — as a combined figure between Early Decision I and II.

So in what direction are Early Decision applications headed at BC since the school instituted its ED policy in 2019? Up, up, and away!

Why Doesn’t Boston College Have Early Action?

When BC lifted the restriction on its Early Action policy in 2018 by allowing students to apply to other schools via Early Decision I and II, we at Ivy Coach raised a skeptical eyebrow at the messaging on BC’s admissions website.

At the time, BC’s admisisons office wrote, “Admission through Early Action to Boston College is more competitive than at Regular Decision.”

But loyal readers of Ivy Coach’s college admissions blog know that students always have a better chance of earning admission in the Early round rather than the Regular Decision round — as the admissions statistics bare out.

The school also wrote, “Candidates who have selected the Early Decision I option at another college are free to apply through Early Action to Boston College. However, such candidates have identified that college as their absolute first choice. They have entered into a binding agreement to enroll at that college, if admitted and therefore are not free to fully consider a possible acceptance from Boston College. Thus, we request that Early Decision I candidates consider not applying Early Action to Boston College.”

But it seemed rather foolish to us that BC would change its policy to allow students to apply Early Action to the Jesuit institution while they applied Early Decision to another school while simultaneously openly discouraging students from doing so. It was as though BC was trying to hold the moral high ground while allowing more students to apply to boost its all-important US News & World Report ranking.

In light of the seeming contradictions in BC’s policy in 2018, it was thus little surprise that BC would so soon thereafter make the drastic shift to Early Decision I and II.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Boston College Admission

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to BC, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch in short order.