Bowdoin College vs. Middlebury

Comparable Facts

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

Middlebury College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,803 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Middlebury? 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 Middlebury ($22,228 vs. $26,233).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 4% lower than at Middlebury College ($18,488 vs. $19,250).
• Bowdoin College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Middlebury (about $232 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Bowdoin College than at Middlebury College (about $232 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,600.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Middlebury College (55% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Middlebury College students ($62,872 vs. $59,647).

Bowdoin College vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 10 points higher than at Middlebury (1500).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Middlebury (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Middlebury College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
• Middlebury has a higher acceptance rate (10.7%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

Bowdoin College vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Middlebury? 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 Middlebury College's (90%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Middlebury graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $72,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $2,944 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($15,889 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($164 vs. $194).
• More Middlebury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.