Bowdoin College vs. Cornell

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Cornell? 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 Cornell ($22,228 vs. $26,361).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 4.8% lower than at Cornell University ($18,488 vs. $19,428).
• Cornell University is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $1,482 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Cornell than at Bowdoin College (about $1,482 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Cornell University (55% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($62,872 vs. $61,779).

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Cornell? 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 Cornell and Bowdoin College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 30 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Cornell (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Cornell University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Cornell University 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
• Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Bowdoin College vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Cornell? 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).

• Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
• Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $6,833 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($12,000 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.