Bowdoin College vs. MHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

Bowdoin College vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or MHC? 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 MHC ($22,228 vs. $32,526).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 6.1% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,488 vs. $19,684).
• Bowdoin College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $814 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Bowdoin College than at Mount Holyoke College (about $814 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Bowdoin College (77% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($62,872 vs. $52,418).

Bowdoin College vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 50 points higher than at MHC (1460).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
• MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Bowdoin College vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $2,373 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($18,833 vs. $21,206).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($194 vs. $219).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.