Bowdoin College vs. Macalester College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Macalester College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,138 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Macalester College is in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Macalester College 10:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Macalester College? 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 Macalester College ($22,228 vs. $40,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 14.8% lower than at Bowdoin College ($15,760 vs. $18,488).
• Macalester College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $272 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Macalester College than at Bowdoin College (about $272 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Macalester College than at Bowdoin College (87% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 47% larger than aid received by Macalester College students ($62,872 vs. $42,766).

Bowdoin College vs. Macalester College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 80 points higher than at Macalester College (1430).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Macalester College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Macalester College 1350/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Macalester College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Macalester College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Macalester College Jan 15, 2027.
• Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.5%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 21.9% at Macalester College.

Bowdoin College vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Macalester College? 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 Macalester College's (87%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than Macalester College graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $3,837 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($18,833 vs. $22,670).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($194 vs. $234).
• More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.