Bowdoin College vs. Cornell

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

Bowdoin College Cornell
Location Brunswick, ME Ithaca, NY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,915 25,898
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #19
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu cornell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Cornell
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $62,456
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $62,456
Room & Board $16,772 $16,988
Avg Net Price $22,776 $26,060
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $54,219
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 51%

Admission

Bowdoin College Cornell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 69,195
Admitted 862 5,168
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 7.5%
Enrolled % 58.9% 67.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.9
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1470/1570
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 2, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Cornell
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Cornell
Graduation Rate 92% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $98,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $194 $124

Diversity

Bowdoin College Cornell
% Men 48% 47%
% Women 52% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 41%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 5% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 8%

Students

Bowdoin College Cornell
% In-State 9% 33%
% Out-of-State 83% 55%

Campus

Bowdoin College Cornell
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

  • Cornell University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (25,898 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Cornell?

  • Cornell University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($62,456.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at Cornell than Bowdoin College ($62,456.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Cornell ($22,776 vs. $26,060)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 1.3% lower than costs at Cornell University ($16,772 vs. $16,988)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Cornell University (52% vs. 51%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($54,219 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Cornell (7.5%)

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cornell is higher than Bowdoin College (93% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn on average $23,400 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($98,400 vs. $75,000)
  • Cornell University students graduate with a $6,833 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($12,000 vs. $18,833)
  • Cornell graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($124 vs. $194)
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College 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/