Bowdoin College vs. Brown

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

Bowdoin College Brown
Location Brunswick, ME Providence, RI
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,915 11,189
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #11
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu brown.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Brown
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $62,680
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $62,680
Room & Board $16,772 $15,840
Avg Net Price $22,776 $26,723
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $55,847
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 46%

Admission

Bowdoin College Brown
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 50,649
Admitted 862 2,562
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 5.1%
Enrolled % 58.9% 67%
Avg High School GPA - 3.94
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 34/36
SAT Range 1460/1560 1490/1580
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 5, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Brown
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Brown
Graduation Rate 92% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $87,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $194 $155

Diversity

Bowdoin College Brown
% Men 48% 48%
% Women 52% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 43%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 5% 12%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

Bowdoin College Brown
% In-State 9% 3%
% Out-of-State 83% 79%

Campus

Bowdoin College Brown
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Brown University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (11,189 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Brown?

  • Brown University is 2.8% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($62,680.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Brown than Bowdoin College ($62,680.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Brown ($22,776 vs. $26,723)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 5.9% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($15,840 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Brown University (52% vs. 46%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 4.3% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($55,847 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Brown Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Brown (5.1%)

Bowdoin College vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Brown is higher than Bowdoin College (95% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Brown University earn on average $12,600 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($87,600 vs. $75,000)
  • Brown University students graduate with a $3,833 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($15,000 vs. $18,833)
  • Brown graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($155 vs. $194)
  • More Brown 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/