Colby College vs Bowdoin College: 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 2.1 years at Colby College, on median earnings of $82,735 vs $80,490 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colby College | Bowdoin College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,180 | $14,398 |
| Total net cost | $68,720 | $57,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,490 | $82,735 |
| Median debt | $19,157 | $18,500 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $573,880 | $629,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colby College or Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College, at $14,398 a year after aid versus $17,180 — a gap of $2,782 a year, or $11,128 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Colby College or Bowdoin College graduates earn more?
Bowdoin College graduates report a median $82,735 ten years after entry, $2,245 more than the $80,490 at Colby 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, Colby College or Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin College: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $19,157 at Colby College, a difference of $657. 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 89% at Colby College. 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.