Bowdoin College vs. Williams

Comparable Facts

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

Williams College is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Williams College 6:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Williams? 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 Williams College than Bowdoin College ($15,894 vs. $22,228).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 6.6% lower than at Bowdoin College ($17,260 vs. $18,488).
• Williams College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $728 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Williams than at Bowdoin College (about $728 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Williams College (55% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Bowdoin College students ($68,966 vs. $62,872).

Bowdoin College vs. Williams Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 20 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Williams (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Williams College 1490/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Williams College 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
• Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 43% at Williams.

Bowdoin College vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bowdoin College and Williams? 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).

• Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Williams graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $73,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $4,251 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($14,582 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($150 vs. $194).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.