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BU Villanova Northeastern Bates Tufts Babson Colgate Brandeis University Holy Cross NYU Notre Dame University of Richmond| Bowdoin College | Boston College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
| Location | Brunswick, ME | Chestnut Hill, MA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,850 | 15,280 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #26 | #50 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bowdoin.edu | bc.edu | ||
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Costs |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,304 | $66,410 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,304 | $66,410 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,690 | $18,475 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,110 | $32,590 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $57,280 | $51,099 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 43% |
Admission |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,966 | 36,069 | ||
| Admitted | 879 | 5,645 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 8% | 15.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 57.3% | 41.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.86 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 33/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1480/1550 | 1430/1540 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 92% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $75,000 | $90,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 90% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,833 | $19,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $194 | $196 |
Diversity |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 20% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 6% |
Students |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 10% | 21% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 81% | 71% | ||
Campus |
Bowdoin College | BC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (15,280 students vs. 1,850 students)
Bowdoin College vs. BC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or BC?
- Boston College is 3.3% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($66,410.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.3% higher at BC than Bowdoin College ($66,410.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than BC ($23,110 vs. $32,590)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 4.4% lower than costs at Boston College ($17,690 vs. $18,475)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Boston College (52% vs. 43%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 12.1% larger than aid received Boston College ($57,280 vs. $51,099)
Bowdoin College vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or BC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BC or Bowdoin College .
- BC has a higher acceptance rate (15.7%) than Bowdoin College (8%)
Bowdoin College vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bowdoin College or BC? 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 BC and Bowdoin College.
- The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Boston College (92% vs. 91%)
- Graduates from Boston College earn on average $15,900 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $75,000)
- Bowdoin College students graduate with a $167 lower median federal student loan debt than BC graduates. ($18,833 vs. $19,000)
- Bowdoin College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than BC graduates. ($194 vs. $196)
- More BC 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/