Bowdoin College vs. BU

Deciding between Bowdoin College and Boston University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bowdoin College
Boston University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Bowdoin College Distant Town
  • BU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bowdoin College 1,881
  • BU 37,737
  • Type
  • Bowdoin College Private 4 Year
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bowdoin College #25
  • BU #73
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bowdoin College -
  • BU -
  • Status
  • Bowdoin College Non-profit
  • BU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bowdoin College
  • BU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • BU $68,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • BU $68,102
  • Room & Board
  • Bowdoin College $18,488
  • BU $19,020
  • Average Net Price
  • Bowdoin College $22,228
  • BU $24,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College $62,872
  • BU $61,848
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College 55%
  • BU 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bowdoin College 13,265
  • BU 78,769
  • Admitted
  • Bowdoin College 946
  • BU 8,749
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bowdoin College 7.1%
  • BU 11.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Bowdoin College 53.6%
  • BU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bowdoin College 1510
  • BU 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bowdoin College 34
  • BU 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bowdoin College -
  • BU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bowdoin College -
  • BU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bowdoin College Elite
  • BU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bowdoin College Extreme
  • BU Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bowdoin College 33/35
  • BU 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bowdoin College 1470/1550
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bowdoin College Test optional
  • BU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027
  • BU Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bowdoin College 9:1
  • BU 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bowdoin College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bowdoin College 92%
  • BU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bowdoin College $75,000
  • BU $72,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bowdoin College 87%
  • BU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bowdoin College $18,833
  • BU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bowdoin College $194
  • BU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bowdoin College 48%
  • BU 42%
  • % Women
  • Bowdoin College 52%
  • BU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bowdoin College High
  • BU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bowdoin College No
  • BU No
  • % White
  • Bowdoin College 63%
  • BU 43%
  • % Asian
  • Bowdoin College 7%
  • BU 14%
  • % Black
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • BU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bowdoin College 12%
  • BU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • BU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bowdoin College 6%
  • BU 4%
  • % International
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • BU 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bowdoin College 1%
  • BU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bowdoin College 9%
  • BU 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bowdoin College 82%
  • BU 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • BU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • BU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • BU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bowdoin College No
  • BU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • BU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Boston University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Bowdoin College vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or BU? 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 BU ($22,228 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 2.8% lower than at Boston University ($18,488 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $270 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,832.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at BU than at Bowdoin College (about $270 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $67,832.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Boston University (55% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Boston University students ($62,872 vs. $61,848).

Bowdoin College vs. BU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 30 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Boston University 1420/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; BU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 37.4% at BU.

Bowdoin College vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and BU? 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).

  • Bowdoin College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $8,167 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($18,833 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($194 vs. $279).
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.