Bowdoin College vs. Olin College

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

Bowdoin College Olin College
Location Brunswick, ME Needham, MA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,850 402
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #26
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu olin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Olin College
Tuition (In State) $64,304 $59,972
Tuition (Out of State) $64,304 $59,972
Room & Board $17,690 $19,820
Avg Net Price $23,110 $40,370
Avg Grant Aid $57,280 $41,116
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Bowdoin College Olin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,966 928
Admitted 879 201
Acceptance Rate 8% 21.7%
Enrolled % 57.3% 48.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.9
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 34/35
SAT Range 1480/1550 1480/1560
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 1, 2026

Academics

Bowdoin College Olin College
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 (100%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Olin College
Graduation Rate 92% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 87% -
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $14,710
Median Loan Payment $194 $152

Diversity

Bowdoin College Olin College
% Men 0% 4%
% Women 0% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 53%
% Black 5% 0%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 5% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 11%

Students

Bowdoin College Olin College
% In-State 10% 12%
% Out-of-State 81% 79%

Campus

Bowdoin College Olin 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

  • Bowdoin College is larger than than Olin College based on total student enrollment (1,850 students vs. 402 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Olin College?

  • Bowdoin College is 7.2% more expensive to attend than Olin College for in-state tuition ($64,304.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.2% higher at Bowdoin College than Olin College of Engineering ($64,304.00 vs. $59,972.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Olin College ($23,110 vs. $40,370)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 12% lower than costs at Olin College of Engineering ($17,690 vs. $19,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olin College of Engineering than Bowdoin College (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 39.3% larger than aid received Olin College of Engineering ($57,280 vs. $41,116)

Bowdoin College vs. Olin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Olin College has a higher acceptance rate (21.7%) than Bowdoin College (8%)

Bowdoin College vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Olin 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 Olin College and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Olin College is higher than Bowdoin College (96% vs. 92%)
  • Olin College of Engineering students graduate with a $4,123 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($14,710 vs. $18,833)
  • Olin College graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($152 vs. $194)

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