Grinnell vs. Bowdoin College

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

Grinnell Bowdoin College
Location Grinnell, IA Brunswick, ME
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,759 1,915
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu bowdoin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Bowdoin College
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $60,952
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $60,952
Room & Board $15,048 $16,772
Avg Net Price $33,467 $22,776
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $53,534
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 52%

Admission

Grinnell Bowdoin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 9,376
Admitted 1,076 862
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 9.2%
Enrolled % 40.6% 58.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 33/35
SAT Range 1380/1530 1460/1560
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, 2025 Jan 5, 2025

Academics

Grinnell Bowdoin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

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 47% 48%
% Women 53% 52%
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 7% 9%
% Out-of-State 72% 83%

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 (1,915 students vs. 1,759 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 ($60,988.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.1% higher at Grinnell than Bowdoin College ($60,988.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Grinnell ($22,776 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 11.5% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($15,048 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Bowdoin College (91% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 26.8% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($53,534 vs. $42,231)

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 (10.8%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

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/