Bowdoin College vs. Vassar

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Vassar? 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 Vassar ($22,228 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 1.3% lower than at Bowdoin College ($18,240 vs. $18,488).
• Vassar College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $3,198 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Vassar than at Bowdoin College (about $3,198 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College as at Vassar College (55% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($62,872 vs. $57,443).

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowdoin College (1510) is 10 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vassar (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Vassar College 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Vassar College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Vassar? 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 Vassar College's (91%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,053 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($15,780 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($163 vs. $194).
• More Vassar 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.