Bowdoin College vs. Barnard

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($22,228 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 14.9% lower than at Barnard College ($18,488 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $2,056 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Barnard than at Bowdoin College (about $2,056 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Barnard College (55% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Bowdoin College students ($63,131 vs. $62,872).

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 10 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Barnard College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Barnard College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
• Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Barnard? 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 Bowdoin College is the same as at Barnard College (92% vs. 92%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $986 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($17,847 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($184 vs. $194).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.