Bowdoin College vs. Colby-Sawyer

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowdoin College is larger than Colby-Sawyer based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 972 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Colby Sawyer College is in New London, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colby Sawyer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Colby Sawyer College 10:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Colby-Sawyer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby-Sawyer ($22,228 vs. $27,496).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby Sawyer College are 6.1% lower than at Bowdoin College ($17,364 vs. $18,488).
• Bowdoin College is 254.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colby-Sawyer (about $48,707 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 254.7% higher at Bowdoin College than at Colby Sawyer College (about $48,707 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $19,125.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby Sawyer College than at Bowdoin College (100% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 466.5% larger than aid received by Colby Sawyer College students ($62,872 vs. $11,098).

Bowdoin College vs. Colby-Sawyer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby-Sawyer and Bowdoin College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Colby-Sawyer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027.
• Colby-Sawyer has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 13% at Colby-Sawyer.

Bowdoin College vs. Colby-Sawyer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Colby-Sawyer? 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 Colby Sawyer College's (54%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $30,100 more per year than Colby-Sawyer graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $44,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $8,167 lower median loan debt than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($18,833 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($194 vs. $279).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby-Sawyer students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.