Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Oberlin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or Oberlin 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. Oberlin College comparison
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Bowdoin College Oberlin College
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Overview

Bowdoin College Oberlin
Location Brunswick, ME Oberlin, OH
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 1,850 2,976
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #26 #155
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $64,304 $63,700
Tuition (Out of State) $64,304 $63,700
Room & Board $17,690 $18,942
Avg Net Price $23,110 $50,484
Avg Grant Aid $57,280 $33,746
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 99%

Admission

Bowdoin College Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,966 11,039
Admitted 879 3,641
Acceptance Rate 8% 33%
Enrolled % 57.3% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.67
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 30/33
SAT Range 1480/1550 1370/1510
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, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Bowdoin College Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Oberlin
Graduation Rate 92% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $194 $274

Diversity

Bowdoin College Oberlin
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 0% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 68%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 5% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Bowdoin College Oberlin
% In-State 10% 6%
% Out-of-State 81% 84%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Oberlin College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,976 students vs. 1,850 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Oberlin?

  • Bowdoin College is 0.9% more expensive to attend than Oberlin for in-state tuition ($64,304.00 vs. $63,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.9% higher at Bowdoin College than Oberlin College ($64,304.00 vs. $63,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Oberlin ($23,110 vs. $50,484)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 7.1% lower than costs at Oberlin College ($17,690 vs. $18,942)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than Bowdoin College (99% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 69.7% larger than aid received Oberlin College ($57,280 vs. $33,746)

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (33%) than Bowdoin College (8%)

Bowdoin College vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Oberlin College (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $31,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $43,900)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $7,746 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($18,833 vs. $26,579)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans 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/