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Compare Bowdoin College vs Colby College

Brunswick, ME · Waterville, ME

Bowdoin CollegeColby College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$14,398/yr$17,180/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$3,145/yr$4,049/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$18,500$19,157
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$2,800/yr$1,251/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$9,007/yr$3,666/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$13,801/yr$12,106/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$35,196/yr$46,511/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$196/mo$203/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,488/yr$17,890/yr
Room & board (off campus)No data reported$6,370/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$840/yr$850/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,660/yr$850/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$85,100/yr$85,420/yr
Tuition (in-state)$67,832/yr$69,600/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$67,832/yr$69,600/yr
Students with Pell Grants17%14%
Students taking federal loans8.4%8.5%
Getting in
Students who get accepted7.1%7.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)1470–15501460–1550
SAT average15201501
ACT range (middle 50%)33–3532–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 35–36 · Math 30–34English 33–35 · Math 29–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received10,96617,786
Students accepted8791,215
Students who enrolled504605
Accepted students who enroll57%50%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores37%36%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores22%18%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate95%89%
Freshmen who come back97%94%
Typical earnings 10 years in$82,735/yr$80,490/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$50,534–$126,498$58,383–$134,924
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)94%88%
White students graduating96%91%
Black students graduating94%82%
Hispanic students graduating94%85%
Asian students graduating93%85%
Typical earnings 6 years in$61,692/yr$60,052/yr
Earn more than a HS grad86%85%
Graduate on time72%75%
Pell students who graduate93%84%
Students who transfer out3.2%6.6%
Typical earnings 8 years in$79,520/yr$68,015/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 34% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 21% · Physical Sciences 9%Social Sciences 28% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Psychology 9%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 34% of degreesSocial Sciences — 28% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 21% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programPhysical Sciences — 9% of degreesPsychology — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 8% of degreesNatural Resources & Conservation — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programArea, Ethnic & Gender Studies — 5% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Mathematics — $90,213/yrEconomics — $76,401/yr
Degrees in STEM42%31%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,8732,407
Students per professor9 : 19 : 1
Average professor pay$14,216/mo$13,207/mo
Full-time professors89%93%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$61,622$94,859
SettingTown (fringe)Town (remote)
LocationBrunswick, MEWaterville, ME
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded17941813
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students6.8%11%
Men48%49%
Women52%51%
White students53%55%
Black students5.4%4.8%
Hispanic or Latino students15%8.4%
Asian students11%10%
Two or more races8.9%7.1%
Other / not reported0.5%3.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students19%11%
Part-time students0.1%0%
Students age 25+0.6%0.1%
Spent on teaching per student$42,365/yr$27,972/yr
Endowment$2.6B$1.2B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,8772,260
Required to live on campusYes — for first-year studentsNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,488/yr$8,870/yr
Meal plan charge$9,202/yr$8,250/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week21 meals/week21 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterFour-one-four plan
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2830
Student athletes637693
Athletic scholarships$0$0
Athletics budget$15.7M$12.0M
Athletics revenue$15.7M$12.0M
Recruiting spend$156,741$167,324

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.