Bowdoin College vs. Amherst

Comparable Facts

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

Amherst College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Amherst College 6:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Amherst? 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 Amherst College than Bowdoin College ($19,049 vs. $22,228).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 0.5% lower than at Bowdoin College ($18,390 vs. $18,488).
• Amherst College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $2,648 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Amherst than at Bowdoin College (about $2,648 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Bowdoin College (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Bowdoin College students ($68,591 vs. $62,872).

Bowdoin College vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Amherst? 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 Amherst and Bowdoin College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 30 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Amherst (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Amherst College 1490/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Amherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

Bowdoin College vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Amherst? 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).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $5,858 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($12,975 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($134 vs. $194).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.