In 1994, Altbach moved to the Boston College and founded the Center for International Higher Education, and soon became the J. Donald Monan SJ professor of higher education at Boston College, a position which he held until his retirement in 2013.
1994 wechselte Altbach zum Boston College, gründete das Center for International Higher Education und wurde bald der J. Donald Monan SJ Professor für höhere Bildung am Boston College – eine Position, die er bis zu seiner Emeritierung im Jahr 2013 innehatte.