Boston College facts for kids
Boston College (BC) is a private university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1863 and is known for its strong connection to the Jesuit tradition. More than 15,000 students attend BC, studying for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across its eight schools.
BC's main campus is famous for its beautiful collegiate gothic buildings, which are some of the oldest examples in North America. The university focuses on a well-rounded education that encourages students to learn deeply and help others.
The sports teams at Boston College are called the Eagles. Their colors are maroon and gold, and their mascot is Baldwin the Eagle. The Eagles compete in NCAA Division I sports, mostly in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Their men's ice hockey team has won five national championships! Many people who have gone to Boston College have become important leaders, scholars, artists, and athletes.
Contents
History
Starting the University
The idea for Boston College began in 1825 with Benedict Joseph Fenwick, a Jesuit who wanted to create a college in Boston. He hoped it would train new leaders for the city. After some challenges, another Jesuit, John McElroy, helped make the dream a reality. He raised money and bought land in Boston's South End.
On March 31, 1863, Boston College officially received its charter from Massachusetts. It became the second Jesuit college in the state. Johannes Bapst, a Swiss Jesuit, became BC's first president. In its early years, BC offered a seven-year program that included both high school and college studies. The lessons focused on subjects like Latin, Greek, philosophy, and theology.
Moving to Chestnut Hill
By the early 1900s, Boston College needed more space. In 1907, President Thomas I. Gasson, S.J., decided to move the university to a larger area. He bought a farm on Chestnut Hill, about six miles west of downtown Boston. He imagined a grand new campus, and construction began in 1909.
The first main building, Gasson Hall, was completed in 1913. Over the years, BC grew, adding new schools like the Boston College Law School and the Carroll School of Management. In 1926, women began to receive degrees from Boston College, and by 1970, it became fully coeducational.
A special moment happened on April 20, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president of the U.S., gave a speech during BC's 100th-anniversary celebration. In the 1970s, students voiced concerns about university policies and world events.
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Gasson Hall in spring
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Gasson Hall in summer
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Gasson Hall in autumn
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Gasson Hall in winter
Growth and Modern Changes
In 1972, J. Donald Monan, S.J., became president. He helped the university grow and improve its finances. In 1974, Boston College merged with Newton College of the Sacred Heart, which added more land for student housing and the Boston College Law School.
Since 1996, President William P. Leahy, S.J., has continued to expand the campus and academic programs. In 2003, after many discussions with students, the university approved a Gay-Straight Alliance, a support group for students. In 2005, the university updated its non-discrimination statement to be more welcoming to all students.
In 2007, Boston College announced a big plan to build new academic buildings, a recreation center, and more student housing. This plan helps the university continue to grow and offer great facilities for its students. In recent years, students have also spoken up to demand fairness and respect for everyone on campus.
Campuses
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Chestnut Hill Main Campus
Boston College's main campus is in Chestnut Hill, about six miles west of downtown Boston. It covers 175 acres and has over 120 buildings. The campus is often called the "Heights" because it sits on a hilltop overlooking the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. You can get to the campus easily by public transport using the "Boston College" streetcar station.
The university's eight libraries hold over two million books and many other important items, from old scrolls to digital files. These collections include writings by famous people like Galileo and Ignatius of Loyola, as well as art and historical documents from around the world. Bapst Library, opened in 1928, is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus.
Newton Campus
In 1975, Boston College added the Newton Campus, which is about one mile west of the main campus. This campus is now home to first-year students and the Boston College Law School. University buses connect the Newton Campus to the main campus.
Brighton Campus
Between 2004 and 2007, Boston College bought 65 acres of land from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. This land now has buildings for the School of Theology and Ministry, as well as sports facilities for baseball and softball teams.
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Simboli Hall, School of Theology and Ministry
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McMullen Museum of Art
Other Properties in Chestnut Hill
In 2017, Boston College bought a 24-acre property that used to be a synagogue. This building now serves as a large rehearsal and event space for the university's theater programs. In 2020, Boston College also bought Pine Manor College, another small college in Chestnut Hill, to help it continue its mission.
Organization and Administration
Boston College has an annual budget of about $1.02 billion. The university is currently working to raise $3 billion through a fundraising campaign called "Soaring Higher." This money will help support student financial aid, student life, and academic programs.
Catholic and Jesuit Identity
Boston College is a Catholic university with a strong Jesuit identity. There are 112 Jesuits living on campus, many of whom are faculty members or administrators. The university has several chapels where over 70 Catholic Masses are held each week during the school year. BC also works closely with the nearby Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Affiliated Institutions
Boston College has a special partnership with St. Columbkille Parish, a Catholic church and elementary school in Brighton. This agreement helps support the parish school and its mission.
Academics
Boston College has eight main colleges and schools:
- Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
- Carroll School of Management
- Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Connell School of Nursing
- Boston College School of Social Work
- Boston College Law School
- Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
- Woods College of Advancing Studies
Rankings
Boston College is considered one of the top universities in the United States. In U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 rankings, it tied for 39th among national universities. Its business school, the Carroll School of Management, has also received high rankings. Many parents consider Boston College a "dream college" for their children.
Order of the Cross and Crown
The Order of the Cross and Crown is a special honor society for senior students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are chosen for this group if they have excellent grades and have shown great service and leadership on campus. It is one of the highest honors a BC student can receive.
Research
Boston College is a research university, meaning its faculty and students conduct important studies and make new discoveries. The university publishes many scholarly journals, covering topics from law and economics to theology and education.
Admissions
Getting into Boston College is competitive. For the Class of 2027, BC received over 36,500 applications and admitted about 15% of them. Students admitted to BC come from all 50 U.S. states and 75 different countries, making the student body very diverse. The university also has a "need-blind" admissions policy for U.S. applicants, meaning they don't consider a student's ability to pay when deciding whether to admit them.
Student Life
AHANA
Boston College uses the term AHANA to refer to students of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent. This term was created by students in 1979 to celebrate cultural differences and avoid the word "minority," which they felt sounded negative. Many other universities in the United States now use the term AHANA or similar words.
Student Media
Students at Boston College have many ways to share news and express themselves:
- Newspapers
- The Heights: The main student newspaper, published weekly since 1919.
- The Gavel: An independent student magazine that publishes articles online and in print.
- The Torch: An independent Catholic student newspaper.
- The New England Classic: A satirical (funny) newspaper.
- Broadcasting
- WZBC: The student-run radio station, 90.3 FM, which plays independent music.
- Boston College Television (BCTV): A student-run TV station that covers student life, sports, and entertainment.
- Other Publications
- Sub Turri: The Boston College yearbook, published since 1913.
- The Stylus of Boston College: The undergraduate literary magazine.
- Elements Undergraduate Research Journal: A journal that publishes research by undergraduate students.
- Ensembles
Students can also join many musical groups, including:
- BC bOp (jazz band)
- Boston College "Screaming Eagles" Marching Band
- Boston College Symphony Orchestra
- Pep Band (performs at sports games)
- University Chorale of Boston College
Theater Performance
Students interested in acting and theater can join groups like The Dramatics Society and Contemporary Theater.
Alma Mater
"Alma Mater" is the university's official song, written by T. J. Hurley in 1885. He also wrote the famous fight song, "For Boston". The song has been updated to include the phrase "for here all are one," showing that everyone belongs at BC.
Athletics
Boston College's sports teams are known as the Eagles. They compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for most sports. The men's and women's ice hockey teams play in Hockey East. BC is one of only 13 universities in the country that offers Division I football, men's and women's basketball, and hockey.
The mascot is Baldwin the Eagle, and the school colors are maroon and gold. The fight song, For Boston, is one of the oldest college fight songs in America.
BC's hockey teams play in the annual Beanpot tournament against other major Boston colleges. The men's hockey team has won five national championships, including in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
The main sports facilities include Alumni Stadium for football, Conte Forum for basketball and hockey, and the Margot Connell Recreation Center. BC students can participate in 31 varsity sports, as well as many club and intramural teams.
Football
Boston College football has had some very memorable moments. In 1984, quarterback Doug Flutie threw a famous "Hail Mary" pass to win a game against the University of Miami. This play helped him win the Heisman Trophy, a top award for college football players. In 1993, the Eagles beat their rival Notre Dame with a last-second field goal.
In 2007, quarterback Matt Ryan led the Eagles to a #2 national ranking. He later became a top player in the NFL.
The Eagles football team honors Welles Crowther, a BC alumnus who died saving lives during the 9/11 attacks. They wear special red bandanna-themed uniforms to remember him, as he used a red bandanna to help people that day.
Women's Lacrosse
The Boston College Eagles women's lacrosse team is a top team in NCAA Division I. They play their home games at the Newton Soccer Complex and sometimes at Alumni Stadium.
Fight Song: "For Boston"
"For Boston" is believed to be America's oldest college fight song, written in 1885. It's often sung at sports events and other university gatherings.
Notable Persons
Boston College has a large network of over 179,000 alumni in more than 120 countries. Students who attend BC are sometimes called "Eagles." Graduates who also attended Boston College High School are called "Triple Eagles."
Many BC students have won prestigious scholarships like the Rhodes, Fulbright, and Truman scholarships, which help them study further or work abroad.
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John F. Kerry
Former U.S. Secretary of State and Senator -
Ernest Moniz
Former U.S. Secretary of Energy -
Paul Cellucci
Former Governor of Massachusetts -
Dannel P. Malloy
Former Governor of Connecticut -
Margaret Heckler
Former U.S. Secretary and Ambassador -
Marty Walsh
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Mayor of Boston -
Joseph E. Brennan
Former Governor of Maine -
Scott Brown
Former U.S. Senator -
Ed Markey
U.S. Senator from Massachusetts -
Leonard Nimoy
Actor (Spock from Star Trek) -
Ed McMahon
Comedian and TV presenter -
Amy Poehler
Actress and comedian -
Chris O'Donnell
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck
TV personality
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Images for kids
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Gasson Quadrangle
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Campus Green
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Stokes Hall amphitheater
