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Brunswick , ME
Bowdoin College, founded in 1794, is a private liberal arts college located in Brunswick, Maine. Known for its rigorous academics, strong sense of community, and beautiful campus, Bowdoin College is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an enrollment of around 1,800 students, Bowdoin offers a personalized and student-centered education, where students work closely with faculty members who are leaders in their fields.
At Bowdoin, students have access to a wide range of academic disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts. The college follows a distinctive liberal arts curriculum with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills. Students are encouraged to explore multiple disciplines, pursue their passions, and engage in intellectual dialogue both in and outside the classroom.
The collegeÆs commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in its holistic admissions process, which values not only academic achievements but also personal qualities and extracurricular involvement. Bowdoin College takes pride in its close-knit community, where students and faculty members collaborate in research and co-curricular activities. The campus itself reflects the collegeÆs dedication to sustainability, with LEED-certified buildings and environmental initiatives that promote conservation and renewable energy. Overall, Bowdoin College offers a well-rounded liberal arts education that prepares students for success in their chosen fields while fostering a strong commitment to social responsibility and public service.
Located in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 7%. The freshman retention rate at Bowdoin College is 96.83% and the six-year graduation rate is 95%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 5. Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Bowdoin College.
Quick Facts
1,881
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$71,070
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
95%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Discover some relevant info about admission at Bowdoin College.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 946 in 2025. Bowdoin College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. This prominent institution with a rich history offers an excellent learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 31.16% and ACT scores 16.77%. 95% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 5% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99 and 1 between 24-29.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 5.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Bowdoin College was 96.83% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 95%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Bowdoin College in 2025 was 1,881.
That year, the institution had 89.32% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 1,881 undergraduate students, including 128 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 7.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 898 male and 975 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Bowdoin College.
This school had 209 Asian students and 101 Afro-American students in 2025. 272 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 167 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 1 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 5 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Bowdoin College that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Bowdoin College estimated tuition costs.
Tuition in 2025 was $71,070 for full-time domestic students. Bowdoin College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $670 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. Most students have to set aside about $840 for books and supplies during their time at Bowdoin College.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Bowdoin College was $19,560 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $9,678, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 71,070 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,560 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 840 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,470 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Bowdoin College.
According to the most recent data, 268 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $68,758 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
956 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Bowdoin College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 956. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $2,707,638, and state $122,300. The students of Bowdoin College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $60,838,788, and external in the amount of $406,603.
$1,000
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $249,052. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,408,229 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Bowdoin College was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 238 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 115 male and 123 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Bowdoin College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about social life at Bowdoin College.
It has a campus size of 215 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 140 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Bowdoin Organic Gardens, followed by Bowdoin Craft Center and Asian Students Alliance. Other popular organizations among the students at Bowdoin College are Bowdoin Culinary Club and Bowdoin Outing Club.
If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Bowdoin College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Bowdoin College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Bowdoin College.
All in all, campus life at Bowdoin College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Bowdoin College.
Career Counselling
At Bowdoin College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library and a job bank. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
FAQ
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Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, ME.
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Bowdoin College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 71,070 USD per academic year for Bowdoin College.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Bowdoin College is 7%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Bowdoin College is 96.83%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.