HMC vs. Bowdoin College

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA with Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowdoin College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Bowdoin College is in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting).
• Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Bowdoin College 9:1.

HMC vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Bowdoin College? 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 Bowdoin College than HMC ($22,228 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 17.2% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,488 vs. $22,318).
• Harvey Mudd College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $781 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at HMC than at Bowdoin College (about $781 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Bowdoin College (64% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 36.1% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($62,872 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Bowdoin College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 30 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming HMC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Bowdoin College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Bowdoin College 1470/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Bowdoin College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Bowdoin College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027.
• HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 53.6% at Bowdoin College.

HMC vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Bowdoin College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $6,707 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($18,833 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($194 vs. $264).

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.