Bowdoin College vs. Bard College

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Bard College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or Bard College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bowdoin College vs. Bard College comparison
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Bowdoin College Bard College
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Overview

Bowdoin College Bard College
Location Brunswick, ME Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 1,915 2,706
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu bard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Bard College
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $59,800
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $59,800
Room & Board $16,772 $17,180
Avg Net Price $22,776 $25,214
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $53,584
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 81%

Admission

Bowdoin College Bard College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 6,482
Admitted 862 2,987
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 46.1%
Enrolled % 58.9% 15%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Elite Unavailable
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Bard College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Bard College
Graduation Rate 92% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $26,194
Median Loan Payment $194 $270

Diversity

Bowdoin College Bard College
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 63%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 0%
% International 5% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 11%

Students

Bowdoin College Bard College
% In-State 9% 31%
% Out-of-State 83% 59%

Campus

Bowdoin College Bard College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bard College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,706 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Bard College?

  • Bowdoin College is 1.9% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $59,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.9% higher at Bowdoin College than Bard College ($60,952.00 vs. $59,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Bard College ($22,776 vs. $25,214)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 2.4% lower than costs at Bard College ($16,772 vs. $17,180)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Bowdoin College (81% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 0.1% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($53,584 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Bard College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bard College or Bowdoin College .

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (46.1%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Bard College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bard College and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Bard College (92% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $33,400 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $41,600)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $7,361 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($18,833 vs. $26,194)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($194 vs. $270)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/