Pitzer vs. Bowdoin College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer 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 Pitzer based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Bowdoin College is in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Bowdoin College 9:1.

Pitzer vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer 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 Pitzer ($22,228 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 16.5% lower than at Pitzer College ($18,488 vs. $22,150).
• Bowdoin College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitzer (about $2,640 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at Bowdoin College than at Pitzer College (about $2,640 more per year; $67,832.00 vs. $65,192.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Pitzer College (55% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 22.1% larger than aid received by Pitzer College students ($62,872 vs. $51,487).

Pitzer vs. Bowdoin College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer 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 Pitzer.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBowdoin College 1470/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBowdoin College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Bowdoin College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027; Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027.
• Pitzer has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than Bowdoin College (7.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 53.6% at Bowdoin College.

Pitzer vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer 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 Pitzer College's (81%).
• Graduates from Bowdoin College earn a median of about $25,400 more per year than Pitzer graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,000 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $2,938 lower median loan debt than Bowdoin College graduates ($15,895 vs. $18,833).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bowdoin College graduates ($164 vs. $194).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitzer students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

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.