College Intel
← Back to colleges

Bowdoin College

Private

Brunswick, ME

Visit website ↗

Bowdoin College is a private small school in Brunswick, ME, enrolling about 1,873 undergraduates. It's highly selective, admitting about 7% of applicants. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services graduates, especially in Computer Science, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $137,611/year. Students are required to live on campus.

Admissions

Admit rate7%
SAT range1470–1550
ACT range33–35
Undergrads1,873
Yield (admits who enroll)59%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$85,100
4-year grad rate95%
Median earnings, 10yr out$82,735

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Bowdoin College's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Bowdoin College weighs your application

From Bowdoin College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Bowdoin College actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Bowdoin College weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans8%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out90%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Area Studies$75,966/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$137,611/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$121,983/yr
Political Science and Government$89,253/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity1,886
Typical room charge$8,050
Typical board charge$8,722

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Bowdoin College look for in applicants?

Per Bowdoin College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates class rank, rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Bowdoin College's acceptance rate?

Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME admits approximately 7% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Bowdoin College?

Admitted students at Bowdoin College typically score between 1470–1550 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Bowdoin College?

Admitted students at Bowdoin College typically score between 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Bowdoin College cost?

Bowdoin College's total cost of attendance is reported at $85,100 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Bowdoin College?

Bowdoin College's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Bowdoin College require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Bowdoin College requires students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Bowdoin College against another school?

Open the comparison view