Bowdoin College vs. Northeastern

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Northeastern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or Northeastern is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bowdoin College vs. Northeastern University comparison
Bowdoin College Northeastern University College 3 College 4
Bowdoin College Northeastern University
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Overview

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Location Brunswick, ME Boston, MA
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,915 30,013
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #130
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu northeastern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $59,100
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $59,100
Room & Board $16,772 $18,430
Avg Net Price $22,776 $35,827
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $42,331
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 82%

Admission

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 91,000
Admitted 862 6,191
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 6.8%
Enrolled % 58.9% 40.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.91
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1440/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Graduation Rate 92% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $69,500
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $27,875
Median Loan Payment $194 $288

Diversity

Bowdoin College Northeastern
% Men 48% 48%
% Women 52% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 48%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 5% 20%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

Bowdoin College Northeastern
% In-State 9% 21%
% Out-of-State 83% 66%

Campus

Bowdoin College Northeastern
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (30,013 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Northeastern?

  • Bowdoin College is 3.1% more expensive to attend than Northeastern for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $59,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at Bowdoin College than Northeastern University ($60,952.00 vs. $59,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Northeastern ($22,776 vs. $35,827)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 9.9% lower than costs at Northeastern University ($16,772 vs. $18,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern University than Bowdoin College (82% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 26.5% larger than aid received Northeastern University ($53,534 vs. $42,331)

Bowdoin College vs. Northeastern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowdoin College or Northeastern? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northeastern or Bowdoin College .

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Northeastern (6.8%)

Bowdoin College vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Northeastern? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Northeastern and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Northeastern University (92% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $5,500 more per year than Northeastern graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $69,500)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $9,042 lower median federal student loan debt than Northeastern graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,875)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than Northeastern graduates. ($194 vs. $288)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/