Bowdoin College vs. Wellesley

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

Bowdoin College Wellesley
Location Brunswick, ME Wellesley, MA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,915 2,447
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #17
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu wellesley.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College Wellesley
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $61,584
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $61,584
Room & Board $16,772 $19,080
Avg Net Price $22,776 $21,362
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $61,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 59%

Admission

Bowdoin College Wellesley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 8,491
Admitted 862 1,152
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 13.6%
Enrolled % 58.9% 50.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.86
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560 1430/1550
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 8, 2025

Academics

Bowdoin College Wellesley
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 (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College Wellesley
Graduation Rate 92% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $68,100
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $8,900
Median Loan Payment $194 $92

Diversity

Bowdoin College Wellesley
% Men 48% 1%
% Women 52% 99%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 40%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 5% 12%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Bowdoin College Wellesley
% In-State 9% 11%
% Out-of-State 83% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wellesley College is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,447 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Wellesley?

  • Wellesley College is 1% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($61,584.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1% higher at Wellesley than Bowdoin College ($61,584.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wellesley College than Bowdoin College ($21,362 vs. $22,776)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 13.8% lower than costs at Wellesley College ($16,772 vs. $19,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wellesley College than Bowdoin College (59% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 14.6% larger than aid received Bowdoin College ($61,328 vs. $53,534)

Bowdoin College vs. Wellesley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (13.6%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is the same as at Wellesley College (92% vs. 92%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $6,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $68,100)
  • Wellesley College students graduate with a $9,933 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($8,900 vs. $18,833)
  • Wellesley graduates are paying $102 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($92 vs. $194)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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