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Macalester College Bates Grinnell St Olaf Wesleyan University Colby College Hamilton College Oberlin Middlebury Pomona Williams WUSTL| Bowdoin College | Carleton College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bowdoin College | Carleton College | ||
| Location | Brunswick, ME | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,850 | 2,069 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #26 | #42 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bowdoin.edu | carleton.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bowdoin College | Carleton College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,304 | $65,043 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,304 | $65,043 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,690 | $16,710 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,110 | $29,434 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $57,280 | $51,916 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 57% |
Admission |
Bowdoin College | Carleton College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,966 | 6,464 | ||
| Admitted | 879 | 1,440 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 8% | 22.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 57.3% | 37.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1480/1550 | 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Bowdoin College | Carleton College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 | ||
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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 | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 1% | ||
| 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 | 10% | 21% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 81% | 67% | ||
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 (2,069 students vs. 1,850 students)
Bowdoin College vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Carleton College?
- Carleton College is 1.1% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.1% higher at Carleton College than Bowdoin College ($65,043.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Carleton College ($23,110 vs. $29,434)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 5.9% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($16,710 vs. $17,690)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Bowdoin College (57% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 10.3% larger than aid received Carleton College ($57,280 vs. $51,916)
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 (22.3%) than Bowdoin College (8%)
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/