Bowdoin College vs. Vassar

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

Bowdoin College Vassar
Location Brunswick, ME Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,915 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Vassar
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $63,840
Room & Board $16,772 $16,560
Avg Net Price $22,776 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 57%

Admission

Bowdoin College Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 11,412
Admitted 862 2,129
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 18.7%
Enrolled % 58.9% 32%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 32/34
SAT Range 1460/1560 1430/1535
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 1, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Vassar
Graduation Rate 92% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $194 $163

Diversity

Bowdoin College Vassar
% Men 48% 38%
% Women 52% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 59%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 5% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Bowdoin College Vassar
% In-State 9% 24%
% Out-of-State 83% 69%

Campus

Bowdoin College Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Vassar College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,459 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Vassar than Bowdoin College ($63,840.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Vassar ($22,776 vs. $30,603)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 1.3% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($16,560 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Vassar College than Bowdoin College (57% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 6.7% larger than aid received Vassar College ($53,534 vs. $50,193)

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Vassar College (92% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $16,600 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $3,053 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($15,780 vs. $18,833)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans 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/