Dartmouth vs Bowdoin College

Dartmouth College and Bowdoin College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions in the Northeast, offer distinct educational experiences. Dartmouth, nestled in the picturesque town of Hanover, New Hampshire, boasts a slightly larger student body and a lower acceptance rate compared to Bowdoin. Its popular majors include Economics, Government, and Engineering, reflecting its strong academic reputation in these fields. Bowdoin, located in the charming coastal town of Brunswick, Maine, is known for its intimate learning environment and rigorous academic programs. Popular majors at Bowdoin include Economics, Biology, and English, showcasing its well-rounded curriculum. While both colleges share a commitment to academic excellence, their unique characteristics and offerings cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which college aligns best with your academic pursuits and personal preferences.
Bowdoin College logo

Bowdoin College

Dartmouth College logo

Dartmouth College

Overview

Location Brunswick, Maine Hanover, New Hampshire
Campus setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 8.8% 6.2%
Application fees $65
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1440 - 1560
ACT range N/A 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 47.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0%
Total number of applicants 9,325 28,356
Total number of admissions given out 822 1,750
Admitted students who chose to enroll 517 1,221
Yield rate 62.9% 69.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $76,310 $81,501
Average net price $26,727 $24,078
Tuition $57,776 $58,953
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,630

Meal plan: $8,268
Room/dormitory: $10,569

Meal plan: $6,792
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

54.0%
Average amount $45,153
48.0%
Average amount $56,106
Students receiving federal student loan 11.0%
Average amount $4,767
20.0%
Average amount $5,066
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $20,700
37.0%
Average amount $5,335

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,951
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
4,556
Men 50.7% Women 49.3%
Graduate students N/A 2,205
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 91.5% 97.3%
International students 7.1% 17.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,913 3,733
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California Maine Connecticut New Jersey California New York Mississippi New Jersey Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 7:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 93.8% 93.6%
Dropout rate 2.2% 4.9%
Transferred out 4.0% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $122,292
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $83,803
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,127
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $77,719
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,934
  • Year 2: $50,231
  • Year 3: $60,473
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,244
  • Year 2: $42,123
  • Year 3: N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,771
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,658
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,454
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,724
  • Year 2: $167,295
  • Year 3: $180,970
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,259
  • Year 2: $113,015
  • Year 3: $128,856
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,069
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $98,252
Public Health (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $88,684
Engineering Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,341
  • Year 2: $78,343
  • Year 3: $81,883
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,277
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $81,813
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,302
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $80,946
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,095
  • Year 2: $62,192
  • Year 3: $75,463
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,013
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $71,100
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,996
  • Year 2: $61,728
  • Year 3: $70,914

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