Bowdoin College vs. Tufts

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Tufts University in Medford, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tufts University is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Tufts University is in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Tufts University 10:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Tufts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Tufts? 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 Tufts ($22,228 vs. $32,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 0.5% lower than at Tufts University ($18,488 vs. $18,588).
• Tufts University is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $2,872 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Tufts than at Bowdoin College (about $2,872 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Tufts University (55% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($62,872 vs. $55,933).

Bowdoin College vs. Tufts Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 10 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Tufts (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Tufts University 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Tufts University 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Tufts - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Tufts Jan 1, 2027.
• Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 45.5% at Tufts.

Bowdoin College vs. Tufts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Tufts? 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 Tufts University's (90%).
• Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $833 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($18,000 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($186 vs. $194).
• More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.