Bowdoin College vs. Bryn Mawr

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowdoin College is larger than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Bryn Mawr College is in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Bryn Mawr College 8:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Bryn Mawr Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr ($22,228 vs. $33,221).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 4.7% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($18,488 vs. $19,400).
• Bowdoin College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bryn Mawr (about $1,912 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $65,920.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Bowdoin College than at Bryn Mawr College (about $1,912 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $65,920.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Bowdoin College (72% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 25.7% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($62,872 vs. $50,029).

Bowdoin College vs. Bryn Mawr Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 110 points higher than at Bryn Mawr (1400).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bryn Mawr).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Bryn Mawr College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Bryn Mawr - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
• Bryn Mawr has a higher acceptance rate (29.4%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 31.5% at Bryn Mawr.

Bowdoin College vs. Bryn Mawr Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr College's (87%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Bryn Mawr graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $61,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $7,167 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($18,833 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($194 vs. $268).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 79%)

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.