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Bowdoin College and Vassar College are two elite private schools that compete for the same students. But one of those schools is trying hard to address the problem of rich and poor in American society—and paying a high price. The other is making that problem worse—and reaping rewards as a result.

“Food Fight,” the second of the three-part Revisionist History miniseries on opening up college to poor kids, focuses on a seemingly unlikely target: how the food each school serves in its cafeteria can improve or distort the educational system.

Admissions and Aid Statistics

ANNUAL BUDGET

  • Bowdoin:$151.8 million (2015-2016)
  • Vassar:$147 million (2011-2012)
  • NYU:$2.892 billion (2015-2016)

PELL RECIPIENTS

  • Bowdoin:14% (2013-2014) ***278 total Pell grant recipients in 2014-2015
  • Vassar:23% (2015-2016) ***610 total Pell grant recipients in 2014-2015
  • NYU:20% (2013-2014) ***5,655 total Pell recipients in 2014-2015

NET TUITION FOR STUDENTS FROM FAMILIES EARNING $30,000- $48,000

  • Bowdoin:$8,900 (2013-2014)
  • Vassar:$5,600 (2013-2014)
  • NYU:$28,600 (2013-2014)

GRADUATION RATE

  • Bowdoin:93% overall (86.1% on time)
  • Vassar:91.8% overall (87.8% on time)
  • NYU:82.4% overall (71.6% on time)

FINANCIAL AID BUDGET

  • Bowdoin:$34.4 million (2015-2016)
  • Vassar:$58.4 million (2014-2015)
  • NYU:$551 million (2015-2016)

NET TUITION COLLECTED (LESS FINANCIAL AID)

  • Bowdoin:$51.7 million (2014-2015)
  • Vassar:$64.1 million (2013-2014)
  • NYU:$1.648 billion (2015-2016)

Other Background

Sources

FEATURED BOOKS

GRIT ANGELA DUCKWORTH

The Host

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is co-founder of Pushkin Industries and host of the hit podcast Revisionist History. He is a journalist, a speaker, and the author of several New York Times bestsellers including The Tipping…