Bowdoin College vs. NYU

Deciding between Bowdoin College and New York University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bowdoin College
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Bowdoin College Distant Town
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bowdoin College 1,881
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Bowdoin College Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bowdoin College #25
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bowdoin College -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Bowdoin College Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bowdoin College
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bowdoin College $67,832
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Bowdoin College $18,488
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Bowdoin College $22,228
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College $62,872
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bowdoin College 55%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bowdoin College 13,265
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Bowdoin College 946
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bowdoin College 7.1%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Bowdoin College 53.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bowdoin College 1510
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bowdoin College 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bowdoin College -
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bowdoin College -
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bowdoin College Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bowdoin College Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Bowdoin College 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Bowdoin College 1470/1550
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bowdoin College Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bowdoin College 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bowdoin College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bowdoin College 92%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bowdoin College $75,000
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bowdoin College 87%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bowdoin College $18,833
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bowdoin College $194
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bowdoin College 48%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Bowdoin College 52%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bowdoin College High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bowdoin College No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Bowdoin College 63%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Bowdoin College 7%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bowdoin College 12%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bowdoin College 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bowdoin College 6%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Bowdoin College 5%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bowdoin College 1%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bowdoin College 9%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bowdoin College 82%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • NYU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bowdoin College No
  • NYU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bowdoin College Yes
  • NYU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with New York University in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; New York University 8:1.

Bowdoin College vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or NYU? 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 NYU ($22,228 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 21.4% lower than at New York University ($18,488 vs. $23,530).
  • Bowdoin College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $5,036 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Bowdoin College than at New York University (about $5,036 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at New York University (55% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 16.6% larger than aid received by New York University students ($62,872 vs. $53,901).

Bowdoin College vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 10 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
  • Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027.
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Bowdoin College vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $4,417 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($18,833 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($194 vs. $240).
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.