Bowdoin College vs. Holy Cross

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

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
Location Brunswick, ME Worcester, MA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,915 3,083
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #86
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu holycross.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $57,600
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $57,600
Room & Board $16,772 $16,620
Avg Net Price $22,776 $34,679
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $39,615
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 60%

Admission

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 7,036
Admitted 862 2,558
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 36.4%
Enrolled % 58.9% 35.3%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 28/32
SAT Range 1460/1560 1260/1430
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 Holy Cross
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
Graduation Rate 92% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $80,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $284

Diversity

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
% Men 48% 45%
% Women 52% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 70%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Bowdoin College Holy Cross
% In-State 9% 35%
% Out-of-State 83% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of the Holy Cross is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (3,083 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Holy Cross?

  • Bowdoin College is 5.8% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.8% higher at Bowdoin College than College of the Holy Cross ($60,952.00 vs. $57,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Holy Cross ($22,776 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 0.9% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($16,620 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Bowdoin College (60% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 35.1% larger than aid received College of the Holy Cross ($53,534 vs. $39,615)

Bowdoin College vs. Holy Cross Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (36.4%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Holy Cross? 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 Holy Cross and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than College of the Holy Cross (92% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $5,400 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $75,000)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $8,667 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,500)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($194 vs. $284)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Cross students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)

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