California College of the Arts vs. Bowdoin College

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

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
Location Oakland, CA Brunswick, ME
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,501 1,915
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cca.edu bowdoin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
Tuition (In State) $53,856 $60,952
Tuition (Out of State) $53,856 $60,952
Room & Board $19,957 $16,772
Avg Net Price $47,862 $22,776
Avg Grant Aid $27,563 $53,534
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 52%

Admission

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,987 9,376
Admitted 2,261 862
Acceptance Rate 75.7% 9.2%
Enrolled % 8.4% 58.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35
SAT Range 1460/1560
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025

Academics

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (77%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Communications Technology (4%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • English and Literature (2%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
Graduation Rate 49% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $75,000
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,000 $18,833
Median Loan Payment $289 $194

Diversity

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
% Men 35% 48%
% Women 65% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 27% 63%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 14% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 6%
% International 31% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

California College of the Arts Bowdoin College
% In-State 42% 9%
% Out-of-State 20% 83%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowdoin College is larger than than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,915 students vs. 1,501 students)

California College of the Arts vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Bowdoin College?

  • Bowdoin College is 13.2% more expensive to attend than California College of the Arts for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $53,856.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Bowdoin College than California College of the Arts ($60,952.00 vs. $53,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than California College of the Arts ($22,776 vs. $47,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 19% lower than costs at California College of the Arts ($16,772 vs. $19,957)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California College of the Arts than Bowdoin College (91% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 94.2% larger than aid received California College of the Arts ($53,534 vs. $27,563)

California College of the Arts vs. Bowdoin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

California College of the Arts vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California College of the Arts or Bowdoin College? 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 Bowdoin College and California College of the Arts.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than California College of the Arts (92% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $31,500 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $43,500)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $9,167 lower median federal student loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates. ($18,833 vs. $28,000)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans than California College of the Arts graduates. ($194 vs. $289)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 62%)

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