Bowdoin College vs. Swarthmore

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

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
Location Brunswick, ME Swarthmore, PA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,915 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #40
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $58,928
Room & Board $16,772 $18,026
Avg Net Price $22,776 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 63%

Admission

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 14,707
Admitted 862 1,019
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 6.9%
Enrolled % 58.9% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA - 3.9
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 32/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1440/1560
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 4, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 92% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $201

Diversity

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
% Men 48% 49%
% Women 52% 51%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 42%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 8%
% International 5% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
% In-State 9% 10%
% Out-of-State 83% 75%

Campus

Bowdoin College Swarthmore
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

  • Bowdoin College is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,915 students vs. 1,625 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Swarthmore?

  • Bowdoin College is 3.4% more expensive to attend than Swarthmore for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $58,928.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at Bowdoin College than Swarthmore College ($60,952.00 vs. $58,928.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Bowdoin College ($20,715 vs. $22,776)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 7.5% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($16,772 vs. $18,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Swarthmore College than Bowdoin College (63% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 12.2% larger than aid received Swarthmore College ($53,534 vs. $47,703)

Bowdoin College vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Bowdoin College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Bowdoin College (95% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $9,200 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $65,800)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $667 lower median federal student loan debt than Swarthmore graduates. ($18,833 vs. $19,500)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Swarthmore graduates. ($194 vs. $201)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)

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