Lake Forest College vs. Bowdoin College

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

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Location Lake Forest, IL Brunswick, ME
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,753 1,915
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu bowdoin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $60,952
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $60,952
Room & Board $11,898 $16,772
Avg Net Price $27,839 $22,776
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $53,534
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 52%

Admission

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 9,376
Admitted 2,786 862
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 9.2%
Enrolled % 16% 58.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 26/31 33/35
SAT Range 1153/1340 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 Feb 15, 2024 Jan 5, 2024

Academics

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Graduation Rate 68% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $75,000
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $18,833
Median Loan Payment $279 $194

Diversity

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 63%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 17% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 8% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
% In-State 48% 9%
% Out-of-State 52% 83%

Campus

Lake Forest College Bowdoin College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (1,915 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Bowdoin College?

  • Bowdoin College is 17.2% more expensive to attend than Lake Forest College for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at Bowdoin College than Lake Forest College ($60,952.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Lake Forest College ($22,776 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 41% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($11,898 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than Bowdoin College (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 41.2% larger than aid received Lake Forest College ($53,534 vs. $37,907)

Lake Forest College vs. Bowdoin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Lake Forest College vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College 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 Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Lake Forest College (92% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $21,200 more per year than Lake Forest College graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $53,800)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $8,167 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($18,833 vs. $27,000)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $85 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($194 vs. $279)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 78%)

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