Bowdoin College vs. Barnard

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Barnard College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or Barnard 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Bates NYU Columbia Wellesley Vassar Cornell Wesleyan University Georgetown Colby College BC Swarthmore BU
Bowdoin College vs. Barnard College comparison
Bowdoin College Barnard College College 3 College 4
Bowdoin College Barnard College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bowdoin College Barnard
Location Brunswick, ME New York, NY
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,915 3,442
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #35
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu barnard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Barnard
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $60,478
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $60,478
Room & Board $16,772 $19,364
Avg Net Price $22,776 $26,009
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $53,817
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 45%

Admission

Bowdoin College Barnard
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 12,009
Admitted 862 1,056
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 8.8%
Enrolled % 58.9% 66%
Avg High School GPA - 3.85
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 32/34
SAT Range 1460/1560 1440/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Barnard
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Barnard
Graduation Rate 92% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $66,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $17,847
Median Loan Payment $194 $184

Diversity

Bowdoin College Barnard
% Men 48% 3%
% Women 52% 97%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 53%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 5% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Bowdoin College Barnard
% In-State 9% 28%
% Out-of-State 83% 60%

Campus

Bowdoin College Barnard
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

  • Barnard College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (3,442 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Barnard?

  • Bowdoin College is 0.8% more expensive to attend than Barnard for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $60,478.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at Bowdoin College than Barnard College ($60,952.00 vs. $60,478.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Barnard ($22,776 vs. $26,009)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 15.5% lower than costs at Barnard College ($16,772 vs. $19,364)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Barnard College (52% vs. 45%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 0.5% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($53,817 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Barnard (8.8%)

Bowdoin College vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is the same as at Barnard College (92% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $8,100 more per year than Barnard graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $66,900)
  • Barnard College students graduate with a $986 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($17,847 vs. $18,833)
  • Barnard graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans 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/