Bowdoin College vs. Carleton College

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Carleton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or Carleton College 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. Carleton College comparison
Bowdoin College Carleton College College 3 College 4
Bowdoin College Carleton College
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Overview

Bowdoin College Carleton College
Location Brunswick, ME Northfield, MN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,915 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #39
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $62,244
Room & Board $16,772 $15,990
Avg Net Price $22,776 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 60%

Admission

Bowdoin College Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 8,583
Admitted 862 1,427
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 16.6%
Enrolled % 58.9% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.9
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 32/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1430/1550
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 15, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Carleton College
Graduation Rate 92% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $201

Diversity

Bowdoin College Carleton College
% Men 48% 50%
% Women 52% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 63%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 5%
% International 5% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Bowdoin College Carleton College
% In-State 9% 17%
% Out-of-State 83% 73%

Campus

Bowdoin College Carleton College
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

  • Carleton College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,059 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Carleton College?

  • Carleton College is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at Carleton College than Bowdoin College ($62,244.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Carleton College ($22,776 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 4.9% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($15,990 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Bowdoin College (60% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 14.3% larger than aid received Carleton College ($53,534 vs. $46,821)

Bowdoin College vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Bowdoin College (93% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $9,400 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $65,600)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $667 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($18,833 vs. $19,500)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($194 vs. $201)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/