Bowdoin College vs. Providence

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

Bowdoin College Providence
Location Brunswick, ME Providence, RI
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,915 4,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #121
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu providence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Providence
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $56,980
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $56,980
Room & Board $16,772 $16,540
Avg Net Price $22,776 $43,970
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $30,971
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 81%

Admission

Bowdoin College Providence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 11,129
Admitted 862 5,874
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 52.8%
Enrolled % 58.9% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.47
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 28/32
SAT Range 1460/1560 1260/1420
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 15, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Providence
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Providence
Graduation Rate 92% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $68,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $194 $279

Diversity

Bowdoin College Providence
% Men 48% 45%
% Women 52% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 77%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Bowdoin College Providence
% In-State 9% 8%
% Out-of-State 83% 90%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Providence College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (4,473 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Providence?

  • Bowdoin College is 7% more expensive to attend than Providence for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $56,980.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7% higher at Bowdoin College than Providence College ($60,952.00 vs. $56,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Providence ($22,776 vs. $43,970)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 1.4% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($16,540 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than Bowdoin College (81% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 72.9% larger than aid received Providence College ($53,534 vs. $30,971)

Bowdoin College vs. Providence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (52.8%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Providence College (92% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $7,000 more per year than Providence graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $68,000)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $8,167 lower median federal student loan debt than Providence graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,000)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $85 less per month on federal student loans than Providence graduates. ($194 vs. $279)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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