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Boston College - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Diversity

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 6%
Asian American 9%
Hispanic 7%
International 4%
Native American 0%
White 65%
Unknown 9%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 72%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 0%
18-19: 18%
20-21: 38%
22-24: 28%
25+: 17%
Female Faculty 43%
Male Faculty 57%
Faculty Diversity African American: 4%
Asian American: 6%
Hispanic: 2%
International: 7%
Native American: 1%
White: 80%
Unknown: 1%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Cultivating a more diverse student body at Boston College may currently be the school’s largest problem. The majority of students are Caucasian and middle- to upper-class. And that’s probably all you’ll see when walking across campus. A lot of students feel that it’s not the school’s fault that many of the people it attracts hail from similar backgrounds. Yet, BC is diligently working toward drawing individuals from different upbringings and social demographics, and the other students are becoming more accepting and inclusive of what diversity it does have. Hopefully, this will help increase BC’s diversity in the future.

Overall, the school is aware of the lack of diversity on campus and is working to rectify the problem. Many students are not the least bit uncomfortable with the demographics represented at the school; others may press the issue. Potential students should recognize the social landscape before they decide to attend Boston College. Nonetheless, you really have to prepare yourself for a sea of pea coats in the fall and J. Crew skirts in the spring—it’s a very preppy campus. Once again, there are exceptions to this rule, but you have to search for diversity. Some people thrive in the fairly homogenous atmosphere while others detest it, but the mixed bag is hopefully becoming more assorted.

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Boston College Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Boston College

rh1993

'15

Psychology

2.7
C+

Difficult

The school tries, the student don't.

Yes, it's very preppy and conservative. There are a lot students who are well off. People naturally gravitate toward those that look like them, toward people that they feel comfortable with.

It's really up to the students to make it better. The administration tries really hard, but it can only do so much.

If you're not used to it, it can be scary at first (I was terrified when I first came here.) But you get used to it. And you stand out really easily!

Nov 05, 2011

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Diversity at Boston College

mollyemccarthy

'14

Economics

3.8
B+

Many White Students, but Diversity Still Prominent

At a first glance, BC may seem to be predominantly Caucasian. However, minorities have an extremely strong presence on campus. Although they may not be as large in number, the minority students have a large impact on the BC community via a branch of the student government designed to focus solely on the needs of the AHANA (Asian, Hispanic, African American, Native American) community.

Aug 28, 2011

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Diversity at Boston College

srgervase

'14

Economics

3.5
B

Present but Not Always Integrated

The diversity on campus is present, but not overwhelming. It is surprising how many cultural/racial groups stick together. I believe the AHANA program at Boston College almost encourages segregation.

As for economic diversity, that is definitely present. It is primarily Catholic and the sexual orientation diversity is very much limited.

Jul 21, 2011

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Page 1 of 9

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

There are a couple of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning (GLBTQ) organizations on campus—the largest being the GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC). It functions as a semi-autonomous branch of the student government and is committed to developing resources for GLBTQ students, educating on GLBTQ issues, and building communities among and between students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni. Additionally, given Boston College's Catholic mission, GLC is also committed to engaging the religious mission of the University. Allies of Boston College is officially recognized by the school as a student group and its constitution states that it is there to provide support but not advocacy. As the name implies, the organization encourages dialogue between GLBTQ students and the greater Boston College community. Lambda, formerly the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community (LGBC), functions as a social committee run by GLC members and is dedicated to putting on social events for GLBTQ students. Although Lambda has repeatedly petitioned for recognition as a student club, it has been denied this status. The campus environment is generally tolerant of GLBTQ persons, but most students are unaware of GLBTQ issues. Additionally, the University offers no institutional resources for GLBTQ students.

Political Activity

Students are politically active on both the Republican and Democratic side, although more students are Republicans with the school being as conservative as it is.

Economic Status

Most students are middle- to upper-class.

Minority Clubs on Campus

AHANA, an acronym to describe individuals of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American descent, is a student group that, for over 20 years, has implemented programs to foster the diversity at Boston College. From extracurricular to academic, AHANA makes a huge impact on the lives of all students at BC. There are also other organizations on campus specifically for certain cultures or nationalities.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at BC

Name: Samantha Durant

Hometown: Cheshire, CT

Major: Communications with Women's Studies minor

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