In October, Boston University threw down the gauntlet and declared plans to expand. Now, Boston College is one-upping BU with expansion plans of its own.

BC's expansion plan rivals that of BU. BU said it would put in $1.8 billion, and BC has announced that it will spend $1.6 billion. The BC Heights reports that the money will go to construction and renovation, and 100 new faculty members will be hired. The rest will go into boosting academic departments.

The construction includes "four new academic buildings, a student center, a fine arts district, new athletic fields and facilities, and nearly a dozen new buildings for undergraduate housing." And a partridge in a pear tree. The Heights article notes that funding for the expansion will be tight. It doesn't mention raising tuition to cover costs, though.

College education is growing ever more expensive, particularly for the private schools. More and more people are going to wonder what's the point of a private-school diploma if they can get a cheaper state education. BC and BU's expansion plans suggest that the schools know they need to start delivering more bang for the buck.

The BC Eagle is getting bigger!