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.
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![]() Bowdoin College |
![]() Dartmouth College |
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Overview |
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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% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.8% | 6.2% |
Application fees | $65 |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$50
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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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
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Room/dormitory:
$10,569
Meal plan:
$6,792
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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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 |
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Students and Campus |
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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
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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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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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)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (First Professional Degrees)
Engineering Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
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