Bowdoin College vs. RPI

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or RPI 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. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Bowdoin College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Bowdoin College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Bowdoin College RPI
Location Brunswick, ME Troy, NY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,915 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bowdoin College RPI
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $58,600
Room & Board $16,772 $16,980
Avg Net Price $22,776 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 90%

Admission

 Bowdoin College RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 16,863
Admitted 862 10,878
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 64.5%
Enrolled % 58.9% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.88
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 30/34
SAT Range 1460/1560 1360/1520
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 RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Bowdoin College RPI
Graduation Rate 92% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $284

Diversity

 Bowdoin College RPI
% Men 48% 69%
% Women 52% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 59%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 5% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Bowdoin College RPI
% In-State 9% 36%
% Out-of-State 83% 58%

Campus

 Bowdoin College RPI
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

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or RPI?

  • Bowdoin College is 4% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4% higher at Bowdoin College than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($60,952.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than RPI ($22,776 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 1.2% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,772 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Bowdoin College (90% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 38.6% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($53,534 vs. $38,636)

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (92% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $7,500 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $75,000)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $8,667 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,500)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans 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/