Bowdoin College vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Bowdoin College based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME (Distant Town setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Bowdoin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bowdoin College 9:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Bowdoin College vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowdoin College or Columbia? 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 Columbia ($22,228 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.9% lower than at Bowdoin College ($17,580 vs. $18,488).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bowdoin College (about $4,013 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Columbia than at Bowdoin College (about $4,013 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $67,832.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowdoin College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (55% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Bowdoin College students ($67,010 vs. $62,872).

Bowdoin College vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 40 points higher than at Bowdoin College (1510).
• Incoming Bowdoin College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Columbia (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 1470/1550; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bowdoin College 33/35; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bowdoin College - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bowdoin College Jan 5, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Bowdoin College has a higher acceptance rate (7.1%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.6% at Bowdoin College vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Bowdoin College vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Bowdoin College's (92%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $32,600 more per year than Bowdoin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $75,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have a $2,667 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($18,833 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Bowdoin College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($194 vs. $222).
• More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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.