Is Bowdoin or Swarthmore harder to get into?

Bowdoin is harder to get into than Swarthmore. Bowdoin's 7.1% acceptance rate is lower than Swarthmore's 7.5%.

Which is cheaper, Bowdoin or Swarthmore?

Bowdoin costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Bowdoin's average net price is $14,398 vs $23,149 at Swarthmore.

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

Bowdoin graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $82,735 at Bowdoin and $80,257 at Swarthmore.

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

Metric	Bowdoin	Swarthmore
Acceptance rate	7.1%	7.5%
SAT mid-50%	1470–1550	1490–1560
ACT mid-50%	33–35	33–35
Cost of attendance	$85,100	$84,103
Avg net price (after aid)	$14,398	$23,149
Undergrad enrollment	1,873	1,613
6-yr graduation rate	95.3%	92.3%
Median earnings (10yr)	$82,735	$80,257
Setting	Brunswick, Maine	Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Bowdoin's 7.1% acceptance rate and Swarthmore's 7.5% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Bowdoin is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $8,751 per year, $35,004 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Bowdoin is in Brunswick, Maine; Swarthmore is in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. 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.

Swarthmore has a more international student body (13.4% 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. Bowdoin is 52.1% women, 6.8% international, and 11.2% Asian-American. Swarthmore is 52.1% women, 13.4% international, and 16.6% Asian-American.

Demographic	Bowdoin	Swarthmore
Women	52.1%	52.1%
International	6.8%	13.4%
White	52.7%	30.3%
Asian	11.2%	16.6%
Hispanic	14.5%	15.5%
Black	5.4%	9.5%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Bowdoin vs. Swarthmore?

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

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The Verdict

Pick Bowdoin if

Net price matters: Bowdoin costs $8,751 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($82,735 vs $80,257)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the Common Good tradition

Pick Swarthmore if

Your odds are realistic at Swarthmore (slightly easier admit)
the Honors program modeled on Oxford tutorials

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

Bowdoin College

7.1% accept · Brunswick, Maine

Full profile

Swarthmore College

7.5% accept · Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

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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Bowdoin College vs. Swarthmore College