Bowdoin College vs. RPI

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or RPI? 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 RPI ($22,228 vs. $38,887).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 2% lower than at Bowdoin College ($18,120 vs. $18,488).
• Bowdoin College is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $3,751 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Bowdoin College than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $3,751 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Bowdoin College (95% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 44.5% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($62,872 vs. $43,517).

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 70 points higher than at RPI (1440).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
• RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and RPI? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
• Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $8,667 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($18,833 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($194 vs. $284).
• More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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.