Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Town (fringe)
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 7.1%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 10,966
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 879
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 504
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 57%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 7.5%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 8.6%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 730–770
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 740–780
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 33–35
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 37% / 22%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- considered
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- required
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- considered
- Other test
- considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $85,100
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $67,832
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $67,832
- Median debt at graduation
- $18,500
- Students with federal loans
- 8.4%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 95%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 97%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $50,632
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $82,735
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,873
- Graduate students
- —
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 9 : 1
- Women
- 52%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 17%
- Full-time faculty
- 89%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- Safa Zaki
- Main phone
- (207) 725-3000
- Address
- 255 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 15 | mid-December |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 5 | early February |
| Regular Decision | January 5 | mid-March |
- Apply with
- Common App, Coalition/Scoir, QuestBridge
- Application fee
- $70 (waivers available)
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- 2 optional essays (250 words each)
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 1 teacher + 1 other
- Interview
- informational optional
Testing: Test-optional for more than 50 years
Financial aid policies
- Need-blind for U.S. applicants
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- No-loan financial aid
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Need-blind for all applicants, including international; fee waived for aid applicants
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 14.9% (296 of 1,985)
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: bowdoin.edu, bowdoin.edu, bowdoin.edu, bowdoin.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.