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Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME, USA

Located near the Androscoggin River and Casco Bay, Bowdoin College is a 4-year liberal arts college in coastal Maine. With a focus on using education for the common good, Bowdoin offers undergraduate degrees in over 30 majors. Additionally, Bowdoin is home to the Schiller Coastal Studies Center, a facility that utilizes its location to research climate change and environmental issues. For journalistically-inclined students The Bowdoin Orient is the oldest continuously-run college weekly newspaper in the United States.

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Private
  • Not for Profit
  • Coed

Need Blind

This school does not consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Suburb or town
0
100
9%
Acceptance Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted.November 15
Fall Regular DecisionJanuary 5
OtherJanuary 1

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
8%
Out-Of-State Students
90%
46%
Submitting ACT
60%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 32
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1405
0
1600

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Bachelor's
Total Number of Students
1,951
Total Number of Undergrads
1,951
Academic Calendar

Semester

See your fit
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
78%
20-39 Students
18%
40-99 Students
2%
0
100
89%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
95%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
9:1
US National: 21:1

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Key Financial Stats

Average Net Price
$25,622
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$61,528
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$61,528
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$16,772
Books and Supplies
$840

Aid & Grants

0
100
100%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
16%
Average Aid Per Year
$48,178
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
16%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$6,645
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$46,203

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
15%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$9,571
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$14,448
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$151

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
49%
51%
Student Organizations
140
Size of Town
Suburb or town
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
On Campus Women's Center is checked
Yes

Housing

0
100
90%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
Yes

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Polar Bears
School Colors
black and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
New England Small College Ath Conf

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Top 5 Cities
Boston
New York
Portland
San Francisco
Washington
Employed
6 mos. after graduation
40%
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$83,300

What Students Are Saying

I chose this school over the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, and the honors college at the University of Michigan because it has the rare combination of academic rigor, high quality of life, and a selective campus full of people who are kind and intelligent. The school was also very generous in the amount of financial aid I received. If you have a love of learning and enjoying nature's wonders, consider Bowdoin very seriously in your college search.
Allyson from West Bloomfield, MI
A small school with a liberal student body that is very focused on academics. Most students are on varsity sports teams or clubs. The food is so good.
Samuel from South China, ME
It has been an incredible experience so far. I love the campus and community, and the teachers compel me to work hard. I am in my second year, and I am loving every minute of it.
Jared from South Orange, NJ
Bowdoin is hands down the best school I applied to! The financial aid is Ivy caliber, the college is extremely competitive to get into, and the general atmosphere is excellent. At Bowdoin you feel welcomed from the moment you set foot on campus even if you aren't sure you're going to be attending.
Marcela from Saint Louis, MO
Bowdoin is unique as its name. Though the campus is small, the hearts of the people here are big. Bowdoin is truly a place of the common good.
Symone from Calumet City, IL
A small but large enough campus. Students who get excited about what they study. Beautiful community of people and lovely surrounding area.
AM New York, NY
One of the best schools I've seen. Been living on campus during the summer since I was in 7th grade. Now I'm a senior and I'm sure this is the school for me.
Taylor from Baltimore, MD
Bowdoin is a fantastic school that challenges you academically and opens your mind to new ideas. The people and the town are wonderful. As a student, you will feel spoiled; but in a good way.
KT
Bowdoin is absolutely amazing. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for the next four years. A place with a friendly atmosphere, supportive professors, a rigorous curriculum, and great food.
Rubi from Tucson, AZ