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Stanford Yale Johns Hopkins Princeton MIT Duke Bates Columbia Brown Penn UChicago Williams| Bowdoin College | Harvard University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
| Location | Brunswick, ME | Cambridge, MA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,850 | 30,386 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #26 | #4 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bowdoin.edu | harvard.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,304 | $54,269 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,304 | $54,269 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,690 | $20,374 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,110 | $17,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $57,280 | $64,942 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 57% |
Admission |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,966 | 56,937 | ||
| Admitted | 879 | 1,965 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 8% | 3.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 57.3% | 83.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 34/36 | ||
| SAT Range | 1480/1550 | 1500/1580 | ||
| 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 | Harvard | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 7:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
| Graduation Rate | 92% | 97% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $75,000 | $136,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,833 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $194 | $67 |
Diversity |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 38% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 44% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 6% | ||
| % International | 5% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 10% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 81% | 70% | ||
Campus |
Bowdoin College | Harvard | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Harvard University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (30,386 students vs. 1,850 students)
Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Harvard?
- Bowdoin College is 18.5% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($64,304.00 vs. $54,269.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.5% higher at Bowdoin College than Harvard University ($64,304.00 vs. $54,269.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Bowdoin College ($17,900 vs. $23,110)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 15.2% lower than costs at Harvard University ($17,690 vs. $20,374)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Harvard University than Bowdoin College (57% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 13.4% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($64,942 vs. $57,280)
Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Harvard? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Harvard or Bowdoin College .
- Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Harvard (3.5%)
Bowdoin College vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bowdoin College or Harvard? 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 Harvard and Bowdoin College.
- The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Bowdoin College (97% vs. 92%)
- Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $61,700 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $75,000)
- Harvard University students graduate with a $12,333 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($6,500 vs. $18,833)
- Harvard graduates are paying $127 less per month on federal student loans 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/