Extremely selective
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
7.1% admitted · $18,978/yr after aid
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofit · Fringe town · Website
- Admission rate
- 7.1%
- Extremely selective
- Average net price
- $15,595
- per year, after aid
- Graduation rate
- 93%
- Median earnings
- $90,153
- 10 years after enrolling
Summary
Bowdoin College is a private nonprofit college in Brunswick, ME with 1,873 undergraduates. It admits 7.1% of applicants, and admitted students average 1520 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $15,595 per year ($3,318 for families earning under $30,000). 93% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $90,153 ten years after enrolling.
private nonprofit college
Admissions
- Admission rate
- 7.1%
- Fall 2024
- Testing policy
- Test optional
- Fall 2024
- Applicants
- 10,966
- Fall 2023
- Admitted
- 879
- Fall 2023
- Yield
- 57%
- of admitted students enrolled
Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.
SAT Reading & Writing730–770
200800
SAT Math740–780
200800
ACT Composite33–35
136
What Bowdoin College looks at
As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).
- High school recordRequired
- High school GPAConsidered
- College-prep courseworkRequired
- Class rankConsidered
- Essay or personal statementRequired
- RecommendationsRequired
- Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
- Legacy statusConsidered
- Work experienceConsidered
- English proficiency testConsidered
Cost
- Cost of attendance
- $88,820
- sticker price, per year
- Tuition & fees
- $71,740
Net price by family income
Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k$3,318
- $30–48k$5,634
- $48–75k$8,694
- $75–110k$16,219
- $110k+$40,929
Get a personal estimate with Bowdoin College's net price calculator
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 93%
- Freshman retention
- 97%
- Median earnings
- $90,153
- 10 yrs after enrolling
- Median debt
- $15,000
- at graduation
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,873
- Student–faculty ratio
- 9:1
- Receive Pell grants
- 20%
- White53%
- Hispanic14%
- Black5%
- Asian11%
Bowdoin College FAQ
What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?+
Bowdoin College admits 7.1% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.
What SAT score do you need for Bowdoin College?+
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 730–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 740–780 on SAT Math; the average total is 1520.
What ACT score do you need for Bowdoin College?+
The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.
Is Bowdoin College test optional?+
Test optional (considered if submitted).
How many students apply to Bowdoin College?+
In Fall 2023, 10,966 students applied to Bowdoin College and 879 were admitted; 504 enrolled.
Does Bowdoin College consider legacy status?+
Yes. Bowdoin College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).
Does Bowdoin College require an essay?+
Bowdoin College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).
How much does Bowdoin College cost?+
The sticker cost of attendance is $88,820 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,595.
What is Bowdoin College's graduation rate?+
93% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Sources
- Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
- Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
- IPEDS unit ID 161004 · How we use this data
Similar colleges
Closest in selectivity and size
