Boston College, founded in 1863, is a preeminent private Jesuit, Catholic university in the United States and the leader in formative education. Annually, more than 4,000 degrees are conferred in over 60 fields of study across nine schools and colleges. Its setting is suburban and the idyllic campus stretches across 400 acres yet is in immediate proximity to Boston, affording students multiple opportunities for internships, research, service, and exploration.