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Bates Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Wesleyan University Kenyon Colby College Williams Middlebury Haverford College Cornell WUSTL| Grinnell College | Bowdoin College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Brunswick, ME | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 1,850 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #26 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | bowdoin.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $64,304 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $64,304 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $17,690 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $23,110 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $57,280 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 52% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 10,966 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 879 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 57.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 33/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1480/1550 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 92% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $75,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 87% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $18,833 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $194 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 81% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | Bowdoin College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Bowdoin College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (1,850 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Bowdoin College?
- Grinnell College is 0.1% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.1% higher at Grinnell than Bowdoin College ($64,342.00 vs. $64,304.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Grinnell ($23,110 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 11.4% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($15,878 vs. $17,690)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Bowdoin College (92% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 25.1% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($57,280 vs. $45,782)
Grinnell vs. Bowdoin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Bowdoin College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bowdoin College or Grinnell .
- Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Bowdoin College (8%)
Grinnell vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell 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 Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Grinnell College (92% vs. 88%)
- Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $15,500 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $59,500)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $5,663 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates. ($13,170 vs. $18,833)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than Bowdoin College graduates. ($136 vs. $194)
- More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowdoin College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/