Bowdoin College vs. Princeton

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

Bowdoin College Princeton
Location Brunswick, ME Princeton, NJ
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,915 8,842
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #1
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu princeton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Princeton
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $57,410
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $57,410
Room & Board $16,772 $18,630
Avg Net Price $22,776 $18,698
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $59,792
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 61%

Admission

Bowdoin College Princeton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 38,019
Admitted 862 2,167
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 5.7%
Enrolled % 58.9% 69.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.93
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1490/1580
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 Princeton
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • History (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Princeton
Graduation Rate 92% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $113,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $77

Diversity

Bowdoin College Princeton
% Men 48% 53%
% Women 52% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 45%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 5% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Bowdoin College Princeton
% In-State 9% 16%
% Out-of-State 83% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Princeton University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (8,842 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Princeton?

  • Bowdoin College is 6.2% more expensive to attend than Princeton for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.2% higher at Bowdoin College than Princeton University ($60,952.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Princeton University than Bowdoin College ($18,698 vs. $22,776)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 11.1% lower than costs at Princeton University ($16,772 vs. $18,630)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Princeton University than Bowdoin College (61% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 11.7% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($59,792 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Princeton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Princeton (5.7%)

Bowdoin College vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than Bowdoin College (96% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $38,900 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $75,000)
  • Princeton University students graduate with a $11,333 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($7,500 vs. $18,833)
  • Princeton graduates are paying $117 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($77 vs. $194)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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