Bowdoin College vs. BU

Should I go to Bowdoin College or Boston University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowdoin College or BU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Northeastern BC NYU Bates Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University
Bowdoin College vs. Boston University comparison
Bowdoin College Boston University College 3 College 4
Bowdoin College Boston University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bowdoin College BU
Location Brunswick, ME Boston, MA
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,915 36,714
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #25 #79
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowdoin.edu bu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowdoin College BU
Tuition (In State) $60,952 $61,050
Tuition (Out of State) $60,952 $61,050
Room & Board $16,772 $17,400
Avg Net Price $22,776 $27,829
Avg Grant Aid $53,534 $51,565
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 48%

Admission

Bowdoin College BU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,376 80,796
Admitted 862 11,607
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 14.4%
Enrolled % 58.9% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.79
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 31/34
SAT Range 1460/1560 1350/1500
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 5, 2024 Jan 4, 2024

Academics

Bowdoin College BU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Bowdoin College BU
Graduation Rate 92% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,000 $72,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,833 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $194 $279

Diversity

Bowdoin College BU
% Men 48% 43%
% Women 52% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 43%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 5% 20%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Bowdoin College BU
% In-State 9% 14%
% Out-of-State 83% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 1,915 students)

Bowdoin College vs. BU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or BU?

  • Boston University is 0.2% more expensive to attend than Bowdoin College for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.2% higher at BU than Bowdoin College ($61,050.00 vs. $60,952.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than BU ($22,776 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowdoin College are 3.7% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,772 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bowdoin College than Boston University (52% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 3.8% larger than aid received Boston University ($53,534 vs. $51,565)

Bowdoin College vs. BU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (14.4%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Bowdoin College vs. BU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowdoin College or BU? 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 BU and Bowdoin College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Boston University (92% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $3,000 more per year than BU graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $72,000)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $8,167 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,000)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $85 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($194 vs. $279)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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