Bates vs. Bowdoin College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates College in Lewiston, ME with Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowdoin College is larger than Bates based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 1,760 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bates College is located in Lewiston, ME (Small City setting); Bowdoin College is in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting).
• Bates College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates College 9:1; Bowdoin College 9:1.

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Bowdoin College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Bates ($22,228 vs. $24,723).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 1.6% lower than at Bates College ($18,488 vs. $18,780).
• Bowdoin College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bates (about $1,242 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $66,590.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Bowdoin College than at Bates College (about $1,242 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $66,590.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Bates College (55% vs. 40%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Bates College students ($62,872 vs. $58,809).

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Bowdoin College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bowdoin College and Bates.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 30 points higher than at Bates (1480).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Bates).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 1420/1530; Bowdoin College 1470/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bates College 31/34; Bowdoin College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bates - Test optional; Bowdoin College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bates Jan 1, 2027; Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027.
• Bates has a higher acceptance rate (13.3%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.5% at Bates vs. 53.6% at Bowdoin College.

Bates vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bates and Bowdoin College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The graduation rate at Bates is the same as at Bowdoin College (92% vs. 92%).
• Graduates from Bates College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,700 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates College graduates have a $4,383 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($14,450 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Bates graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($149 vs. $194).
• More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.