Whittier College vs. Bowdoin College

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

Whittier College Bowdoin College
Location Whittier, CA Brunswick, ME
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,192 1,915
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #273 #25
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website whittier.edu bowdoin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Whittier College Bowdoin College
Tuition (In State) $48,924 $60,952
Tuition (Out of State) $48,924 $60,952
Room & Board $15,623 $16,772
Avg Net Price $28,368 $22,776
Avg Grant Aid $34,623 $53,534
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 52%

Admission

Whittier College Bowdoin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,014 9,376
Admitted 2,274 862
Acceptance Rate 75.4% 9.2%
Enrolled % 10.9% 58.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 24/30 33/35
SAT Range 1140/1340 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 Jan 5, 2024

Academics

Whittier College Bowdoin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Whittier College Bowdoin College
Graduation Rate 55% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $75,000
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $18,833
Median Loan Payment $263 $194

Diversity

Whittier College Bowdoin College
% Men 44% 48%
% Women 56% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 31% 63%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 44% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Whittier College Bowdoin College
% In-State 64% 9%
% Out-of-State 27% 83%

Campus

Whittier 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 Whittier College based on total student enrollment (1,915 students vs. 1,192 students)

Whittier College vs. Bowdoin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Whittier College or Bowdoin College?

  • Bowdoin College is 24.6% more expensive to attend than Whittier College for in-state tuition ($60,952.00 vs. $48,924.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.6% higher at Bowdoin College than Whittier College ($60,952.00 vs. $48,924.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowdoin College than Whittier College ($22,776 vs. $28,368)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whittier College are 7.4% lower than costs at Bowdoin College ($15,623 vs. $16,772)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Whittier College than Bowdoin College (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowdoin College students is 54.6% larger than aid received Whittier College ($53,534 vs. $34,623)

Whittier College vs. Bowdoin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Whittier College has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than Bowdoin College (9.2%)

Whittier College vs. Bowdoin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Whittier 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 Whittier College.

  • The graduation rate at Bowdoin College is higher than Whittier College (92% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Bowdoin College earn on average $27,600 more per year than Whittier College graduates after ten years. ($75,000 vs. $47,400)
  • Bowdoin College students graduate with a $6,667 lower median federal student loan debt than Whittier College graduates. ($18,833 vs. $25,500)
  • Bowdoin College graduates are paying $69 less per month on federal student loans than Whittier College graduates. ($194 vs. $263)
  • More Bowdoin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whittier College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 69%)

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