Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College Overview

Bowdoin College is a private, nonprofit school in a small town setting in Brunswick, Maine. Bowdoin College was founded in 1794 and the school currently enrolls around 1,951 students a year, which includes 1,951 undergraduates. Bowdoin College provides on-campus housing for up to 1,922 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 95% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is January 5. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by April 1.

Student Activities at Bowdoin College

Interested in music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Bowdoin College's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Bowdoin College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

There are no fraternities or sororities at Bowdoin College, so it might be a good choice if you're not interested in Greek life.

Planning to play sports? Bowdoin College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Bowdoin College on the Student Life page.

Is Bowdoin College a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.

Let's take a look at these factors to get a clearer view of what Bowdoin College offers and if it could be a good choice for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for Bowdoin College

It is extremely difficult to get into Bowdoin College. The acceptance rate at Bowdoin College is 9%. Out of 9,352 applications received in 2022, 822 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Bowdoin College

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 97% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Bowdoin Collegecome back the next year. 94% of Bowdoin College undergrads graduate within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Bowdoin College Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 40% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Check with Bowdoin College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Bowdoin College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Bowdoin College's endowment was $2.7 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Bowdoin College spends about $36,667 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Bowdoin College

Tuition cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Bowdoin College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Bowdoin College full-time are awarded $58,320 a year in financial aid, on average.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $21,417 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Bowdoin College.

Based on this information, how does Bowdoin College sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Bowdoin College a good school for you?

If Bowdoin College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is Bowdoin College?

Bowdoin College is located in the small town setting of Brunswick, Maine, less than an hour from Portland and Maine.

If you would like to see Bowdoin College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 295 to Brunswick, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Portland International Jetport.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Bowdoin College and Brunswick are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Maine?

See a full list of colleges in Maine and save your favorites to your college list.