Bowdoin College vs Maine Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Bowdoin College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,592 in 1.7 years versus 2.3 years at Maine Maritime Academy, on median earnings of $82,735 vs $89,964 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bowdoin College | Maine Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,398 | $23,414 |
| Total net cost | $57,592 | $93,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,735 | $89,964 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 1.7 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $629,908 | $738,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bowdoin College or Maine Maritime Academy?
Bowdoin College, at $14,398 a year after aid versus $23,414 — a gap of $9,016 a year, or $36,064 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bowdoin College or Maine Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Maine Maritime Academy graduates report a median $89,964 ten years after entry, $7,229 more than the $82,735 at Bowdoin College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Bowdoin College or Maine Maritime Academy?
Bowdoin College: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Maine Maritime Academy, a difference of $8,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
95% of students finish at Bowdoin College, against 58% at Maine Maritime Academy. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.