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.
亚色影库 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 亚色影库.
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 亚色影库鈥檚 Early Decision program, introduced in 2019 to meet the growing preference of high school students and to enroll more applicants for whom 亚色影库 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 亚色影库 as their top choice to identify themselves to us,鈥� said Gosselin. 鈥淭hese students tend to be an excellent fit for 亚色影库. 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 亚色影库 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. 亚色影库 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 a