Is Barnard or Bowdoin harder to get into?

Bowdoin is harder to get into than Barnard. Bowdoin's 7.1% acceptance rate is lower than Barnard's 8.8%.

Which is cheaper, Barnard or Bowdoin?

Bowdoin costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Bowdoin's average net price is $14,398 vs $28,800 at Barnard.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Barnard or Bowdoin?

Bowdoin graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $80,516 at Barnard and $82,735 at Bowdoin.

Barnard vs. Bowdoin: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Barnard	Bowdoin
Acceptance rate	8.8%	7.1%
SAT mid-50%	1470–1560	1470–1550
ACT mid-50%	32–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$89,538	$85,100
Avg net price (after aid)	$28,800	$14,398
Undergrad enrollment	3,264	1,873
6-yr graduation rate	93.0%	95.3%
Median earnings (10yr)	$80,516	$82,735
Setting	New York, New York	Brunswick, Maine

The Real Differences

Bowdoin is modestly harder to get into. The 1.7-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Bowdoin is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $14,402 per year, $57,608 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Barnard is substantially larger with 3,264 undergrads vs 1,873 at Bowdoin. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Barnard is in New York, New York; Bowdoin is in Brunswick, Maine. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Barnard has a more international student body (15.6% non-resident students vs 6.8%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Barnard is 100.0% women, 15.6% international, and 21.9% Asian-American. Bowdoin is 52.1% women, 6.8% international, and 11.2% Asian-American.

Demographic	Barnard	Bowdoin
Women	100.0%	52.1%
International	15.6%	6.8%
White	32.4%	52.7%
Asian	21.9%	11.2%
Hispanic	14.3%	14.5%
Black	5.5%	5.4%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Barnard vs. Bowdoin?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Barnard if

Your odds are realistic at Barnard (slightly easier admit)
its partnership with Columbia

Pick Bowdoin if

Net price matters: Bowdoin costs $14,402 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($82,735 vs $80,516)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the Common Good tradition

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Barnard College

8.8% accept · New York, New York

Full profile

Bowdoin College

7.1% accept · Brunswick, Maine

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Barnard College vs. Bowdoin College