Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($22,228 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 5.2% lower than at Oberlin College ($18,488 vs. $19,510).
• Bowdoin College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oberlin (about $466 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,366.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Bowdoin College than at Oberlin College (about $466 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $67,366.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Bowdoin College (99% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 75.7% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($62,872 vs. $35,780).

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 70 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Oberlin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Oberlin College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
• Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Oberlin? 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 Oberlin College's (88%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $31,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $7,746 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($18,833 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($194 vs. $274).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.