Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, Maine and is spread over 200 acres near the shores of Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River (about 30 miles from Portland). The school has about 1,800 undergraduate students, and was recently voted one of the “Most Desirable Small Schools in America” by Newsweek. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its reputation for academic excellence.

The school currently offers 42 majors and 41 minors within 23 departments. The most popular areas of study include social sciences; biological/life sciences; area, ethnic and gender studies; and mathematics and statistics. Class sizes remain small, with a student to faculty ratio of nine to one. Just under 70% of classes have less than 20 students. Freshmen are required to take a First-Year Seminar which focuses on writing skills. There are other core classes with one course in each of the following disciplines: Natural Sciences, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual and Performing Arts, International Perspectives, and Exploring Social Differences. Bowdoin is known for its challenging academics and it was also one of the first schools (in 1969 to be exact) to make SAT scores mostly optional for admissions.

Bowdoin College has earned a reputation for having one of the best college campuses in the country. The dining services have been ranked number one for many years. Incoming students are designated a “College House.” The are eight Colleges Houses were established in 1998. To clarify, students remain loyal to their house throughout their four years. Although Greek organizations were banned in the 1990s, Bowdoin students report feeling a similar affiliation to their residences.

The college has also created a lively social atmosphere. There are more than 120 student organizations on campus. Bowdoin has an impressive legacy for literary pursuits. The student newspaper, “The Bowdoin Orient,” is the longest-running college weekly in the country. Likewise, the literary magazine, “The Quill,” has been around since 1897. Another literary group, called the Peucinian Society, was founded in 1805. One of the most popular organizations among students is the Outing Club, which conducts more than 100 outdoor adventures every year in Maine. Although small in size, Bowdoin does offer a strong athletic presence. With 31 varsity teams, Bowdoin participates in the NCAA Division III and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

Students looking for a small, intimate campus will enjoy Bowdoin’s environment. With strong academic courses and opportunities for internships and study-abroad programs, Bowdoin’s many advantages are hard to pass up. The high rankings the school receives also demonstrate how fond students are of the campus, dorms, and dining services. With devoted professors and small class sizes, Bowdoin helps to create a collaborative atmosphere where students can succeed during their undergraduate years.

Early Decision (Round 1): Nov. 15

Early Decision (Round 2): Jan.1

Regular Decision: Jan. 1

Transfer admissions: Mar. 1

Freshmen Admissions
Number of 2020 (Class of 2024) applicants: 9,402
Enrolled: 500
Yield: 58.5%
Acceptance rate: 9.1%

Early Decision Admissions
Number of 2020 (Class of 2024) ED applicants: 1,126
Admitted ED applicants: 167
ED acceptance rate: 14.8%

Transfer Admissions
Number of transfer applicants: 182
Admitted transfer applicants: 7
Transfer acceptance rate: 3.9%

Grades
Average GPA: N/A
Top 10% of High School: 85%

Middle SAT Range (25 to 75 Percentile)
SAT Composite: 1340-1510
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 660-740
SAT Math: 670-780

Middle ACT Range (25 to 75 Percentile)
ACT Composite: 31-34
ACT English: 33-35
ACT Math: 28-34

Bowdoin College is test optional for almost all applicants. (For all standardized tests!)

*Only home-schooled applicants and applicants from schools that provide written evaluations instead of grades are required to submit ACT test scores or SAT test scores and two or more SAT Subject Tests. (Bowdoin encourages such applicants to submit SAT Subject Tests for either Math Level 1 or Math Level 2 as well as a science.)

Graduation Rates
4 years: 88.7%
5 years: 94.0%
6 years: 95.0%

Transferred to another school: 2%

Loan default rate: 2.5%

Total Rhodes Scholars: 22

Salary after attending: $65,500

R&D Expenditures: $2.34 million

Campus Safety
Sex offenses: 10
Robberies: 0
Aggravated assaults: 0
Burglaries: 3
Car thefts: 0

Tuition, room and board (2020-2021): $67,870

Total estimated cost of attendance (2020-2021): $73,210

Net Cost
Average: $23,808

By income
$0 to $30,000: $5,626
$30,001 to $48,000: $12,603
$48,001 to $75,000: $14,539
$75,001 to $110,000: $20,816
$110,001 and more: $39,701

Graduates with student debt: 28%

Average student debt at graduation: $26,775

Student to Faculty Ratio: 8.7 to 1

Women: 51%

Undergraduate Class Sizes
Under 20: 68%
20 to 39: 26%
40 to 99: 6%
100+: 0%

Student Population
Total: 1,835 (all undergraduate)

Student Residence
In State: 10%
Out of State: 81%
International: 9%