Bowdoin College vs. Kenyon

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Kenyon College in Gambier, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kenyon College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,249 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon ($22,228 vs. $46,859).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 15.4% lower than at Bowdoin College ($15,640 vs. $18,488).
• Kenyon College is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $3,688 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Kenyon than at Bowdoin College (about $3,688 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at Bowdoin College (82% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 54.4% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($62,872 vs. $40,731).

Bowdoin College vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 80 points higher than at Kenyon (1430).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Kenyon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Kenyon College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
• Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Bowdoin College vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Bowdoin College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Kenyon College's (87%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $22,100 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $167 lower median loan debt than Kenyon graduates ($18,833 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kenyon graduates ($194 vs. $196).
• More Kenyon 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.