Bowdoin College vs. MIT

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1.

Bowdoin College vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or MIT? 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Bowdoin College ($20,996 vs. $22,228).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 8.8% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,488 vs. $20,280).
• Bowdoin College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $5,436 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $62,396.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Bowdoin College than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $5,436 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $62,396.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Bowdoin College (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($62,872 vs. $61,734).

Bowdoin College vs. MIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 40 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming MIT 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; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; MIT - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
• Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (7.1%) than MIT (4.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Bowdoin College vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $67,100 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $1,517 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($17,316 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($179 vs. $194).
• More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.