Bowdoin College vs. Harvard

Deciding between Bowdoin College and Harvard University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bowdoin College
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Bowdoin College Distant Town
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bowdoin College 1,881
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Bowdoin College Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bowdoin College #25
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bowdoin College -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Bowdoin College Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bowdoin College
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Bowdoin College $18,488
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Bowdoin College $22,228
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College $62,872
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College 55%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bowdoin College 13,265
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Bowdoin College 946
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bowdoin College 7.1%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Bowdoin College 53.6%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bowdoin College 1510
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bowdoin College 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bowdoin College -
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bowdoin College -
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bowdoin College Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bowdoin College Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Bowdoin College 33/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Bowdoin College 1470/1550
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bowdoin College Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bowdoin College 9:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bowdoin College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bowdoin College 92%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bowdoin College $75,000
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bowdoin College 87%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bowdoin College $18,833
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bowdoin College $194
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bowdoin College 48%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Bowdoin College 52%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bowdoin College High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bowdoin College No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Bowdoin College 63%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Bowdoin College 7%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bowdoin College 12%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bowdoin College 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bowdoin College 1%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bowdoin College 9%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bowdoin College 82%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bowdoin College No
  • Harvard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • Harvard Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than Bowdoin College ($17,525 vs. $22,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 12.8% lower than at Harvard University ($18,488 vs. $21,190).
  • Bowdoin College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $6,156 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Bowdoin College than at Harvard University (about $6,156 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Bowdoin College (56% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 8.2% larger than aid received by Bowdoin College students ($68,015 vs. $62,872).

Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 40 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Bowdoin College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (7.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $61,700 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $12,333 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($6,500 vs. $18,833).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($67 vs. $194).
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.