Bowdoin College vs. BC

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

Bowdoin College BC
Location Brunswick, ME Chestnut Hill, MA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,915 15,287
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #45
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu bc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College BC
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $62,950
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $62,950
Room & Board $16,772 $16,120
Avg Net Price $22,776 $30,559
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $49,992
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 40%

Admission

Bowdoin College BC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 40,494
Admitted 862 6,748
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 16.7%
Enrolled % 58.9% 34.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1435/1540
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, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

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 48% 45%
% Women 52% 55%
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 9% 21%
% Out-of-State 83% 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 (15,287 students vs. 1,915 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 ($62,950.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.3% higher at BC than Bowdoin College ($62,950.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than BC ($22,776 vs. $30,559)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 4% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($16,120 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Boston College (52% vs. 40%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 7.1% larger than aid received Boston College ($53,534 vs. $49,992)

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 (16.7%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

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/