Bowdoin College vs. Lafayette College

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

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
Location Brunswick, ME Easton, PA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,915 2,729
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #65
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $58,110
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $58,110
Room & Board $16,772 $17,336
Avg Net Price $22,776 $37,186
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $24,981
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 98%

Admission

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 10,500
Admitted 862 3,531
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 33.6%
Enrolled % 58.9% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.53
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 30/33
SAT Range 1460/1560 1330/1480
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 92% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $194 $268

Diversity

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
% Men 48% 50%
% Women 52% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 67%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 5% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

Bowdoin College Lafayette College
% In-State 9% 16%
% Out-of-State 83% 76%

Campus

Bowdoin College Lafayette 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

  • Lafayette College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,729 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College is 4.9% more expensive to attend than Lafayette College for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $58,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.9% higher at Bowdoin College than Lafayette College ($60,952.00 vs. $58,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Lafayette College ($22,776 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 3.4% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($16,772 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Bowdoin College (98% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 114.3% larger than aid received Lafayette College ($53,534 vs. $24,981)

Bowdoin College vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (33.6%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Lafayette College (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $6,000 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $75,000)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $7,167 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($18,833 vs. $26,000)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($194 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)

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